Parasite” filmmaker Bong Joon Ho’s original science-fiction film “Mickey 17” opened in first place on the North American box office charts.

Bong Joon Ho considers himself an optimist, even if it’s not exactly obvious from his work. “It doesn’t work to deny the dark reality, to just gloss over it,” he explained to me through his go-to translator (and awards season celeb) Sharon Choi.

Bong Joon-ho is a one of a kind. He's only made 8 films in the past 25 years, but each feature is a precious jewel, expertly chiseled and finely shined. There are a handful of thematic and narrative obsessions that he cleverly reworks throughout his films — the injustices associated with Capitalism,