Not everything that happens in Minari is a reflection of reality, but the film is the semi-autobiographical story of writer/director Lee Isaac Chung. Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a semi-autobiographical story about the Yi family. This event has passed. How do our roles in a family sometimes create expectations for us? Anne is a quiet force in the movie, taking care of David and trying to make things easier for her parents. A marriage teetering on the edge of dissolution. He has spent a decade as a sexer and strives to find something more rewarding to do than that job. Minari DRAMA A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. Jacob, Monica, David (Alan S. Kim), and Anne (Noel Cho) receive good news when a cardiologist lets the family know that Davids heart murmur will likely heal on its own. Minari first and foremost is a Korean immigrant story, so Korean Americans and Korean immigrants will connect and understand this story in a way that other Americans cannot, but at the heart of this story is a very American story, a story of wanting to better oneself and family. (1:02:06-1:03:57), Clip #11: After David gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is. What do you think is the significance of Jacob hiring a dowser? That doesn't make it 'foreign.' Viet Thanh Nguyen, Dec 24, 2020. Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? Soon after moving to Arkansas with their son, David (Alan S. Kim), and daughter, Anne (Noel Cho), and taking on the monumental project of starting a farm, it becomes clear that the family needs extra help, so Monicas mother, Soon-ja (played by the wonderful Yuh-Jung Youn), moves in to help Monica take care of the kids while Jacob pursues his dream. For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Minari is wonderful, wonderful!". Monica explains that her mom has no other family because her father died in the war. Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday, July 16. David aspires to be one of the gang and hanging with Johnnie provides that opportunity, however, Johnnie has a wild streak and that stands in opposition to the steadfastness required of the family to survive on the farm. The plant serves as a metaphor for the Yi familys struggles to adapt to their new life and the day-to-day challenges they encounter. Identify a time in your life when you had to work hard and overcome challenges but didn't give up. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Its often used in cooking and as a medicine. Throughout Minari, hes been telling his grandma to go, but hes finally embraced her and wants her around. When the kids on the bus make fun of Paul because he doesn't have water at his house, David realizes that's true about his family, too. Common Sense Media. A FOOW (Fish-Out-Of-Water) dynamic. CAVEATS We also see Jacob possibly understanding Monica better when she also tries to save the produce. By Richard Lawson February 22, 2021 Writer-director. You might also want to discuss some of the learning objectives or the concept of active viewing. You can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. One theme I take away from "Minari" is strength, specifically the perseverance people demonstrate in the face of hardship. "Minari is truly the best. What are Monica's? But thats too much for one film, one director, and one story to bear. When Monica asks Jacob which family the move was really for, what does she mean? The family flees Korea seeking a better life in the United States. Minari is a leafy green vegetable ( sometimes called water celery or water dropwort) popular in Korean cooking. Hand out the graphic organizer and give students a few minutes to complete the Before You Watch question. It features a Korean family in rural Arkansas, and it's already received major recognition, including a Golden Globe Award. The movie taps into common family dynamics that most students will connect with,while complicating those dynamics through a story of migration and cultural displacement. (27:40-31:25), Clip #6: Grandma (Soonja) makes David a special tea, and he complains about a "Korea" smell in his room. Again, demonstrating his growing strength. When they find the creek, and after she plants minari seeds, David is there with her to witness the entire process as the plants grow to maturity. He becomes her companion as she explores the nooks and crannies of the property. Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. If you decide to help students delve deeper into the topic, you might show the entire film and have more extensive discussions over multiple days. The film ends with the visit from a water dowser, who points towards a location for the next well. It could be something that only happened inside of yourself. (25:49-27:39), Clip #5: Grandma (Soonja) arrives, and David is unsure about her. Complex characters. What scene, and why does it stick out in your mind? It's interesting to track both of them, how they compare and contrast. In her last scene, Soon-ja sits wide awake, watching the Yis sleep on the floor together. David expects his grandmother to be able to bake cookies. Our daily schedule Is she what David expected? Jacob (Steven Yeun) moves his family from a comfortable life in California to a. As explained in the movie and by the cast, --Chung called it a weed in an interview with The Wrap, but Yuh-jung corrected him and said that its a vegetable-- minari is a versatile plant used in Korean households in various ways. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Jacob is the oldest son of his family, and the responsibility of taking care of his relatives back home fell squarely on his shoulders, as it often does in conservative societies. When the kids on the bus make fun of Paul because he doesn't have water at his house, David realizes that's true about his family, too. Create a "farm" that represents the things that motivate you to learn and grow as a person. Its been 139 years since the Chinese Exclusion Act that suspended Chinese immigration and declared Chinese Americans ineligible for citizenship (which wasnt repealed until 1943), but the idea of the immigrant as foreign and unassimilable hasnt gone away. I suppose, too, the tiny subplot of the minari plants echoes this theme, how Soon-ja plants the seeds and despite everything that goes on, they grow in their spot by the river. What are the pressures of "fitting in" while also being true to yourself/where you came from? But I kept thinking about how Minari is being marketed and wondered, Is this really a story about the American dream? It's a specific instrument. For example, the clash between David and his grandmotherDavid has to share his room with her and thinks she smells like Korea, and she entertains him by teaching him card games that have Korean swear wordsis a diverse representation of Asian/American identities: The grandmother is funny and quirky. Though she's not avery dynamiccharacter, she plays a huge role in holding everything together. Start by introducing the movie and give students some context as to why its worth thinking more deeply about. NY 10036. Beyond the tornado, why is she angry? * The fire: A major reversal, indeed, the destruction of what Jacob had worked so hard to build, the barn a symbol of what the farm *could* be. Older Post Many people who watch Minari will be blown away by this quiet family epic about the American dream and all the struggles and triumphs that come with it. "water celery") is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Jacob and Monica fight as the kids make paper airplanes with the message "Don't fight!" Minari won the 2021 Academy Award for best Actress in Supporting Role.Young David and his family move from California to Arkansas to settle in a mobile home on vacant land, which the father hopes to farm. Things that hide are more dangerous and scary." What scene, and why does it stick out in your mind? Minari Panel Discussion Production company Motion Picture Association (MPA) See more company credits at IMDbPro Technical specs Runtime 25 minutes Color Color Contribute to this page Suggest an edit or add missing content IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data Learn more about contributing Edit page She brings with her the old countrys values and beliefs and rejects the perpetual fear that her daughter and Jacob feel about Davids health. Why do you think David does what he does, and why does Soonja defend him? In Lee Isaac Chung 's lovely new film, it flourishes in an Arkansas creek bed . choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. In Minari, writer-director Lee Isaac Chung (Munyurangabo) documents a South Korean immigrant familys pursuit of happiness in rural Arkansas. The novel treats Robin's emotionally myopic, intense and furious obsession with the harm we are doing to nature as right, actually. We follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic. When Monica asks Jacob which family the move was really for, what does she mean? Even if it doesnt represent the multiplicity of who we are? In an interview with Deadline, Chung also added how minari doesnt start to thrive until its second season. I am a black woman who grew up poor on the Southside of Chicago, and I felt deeply moved and connected to this film because it made me see my parents' struggles in a different way, and thats one of the remarkable things about Minari. What I'll share worked for me for in-depth interviews, prototype testing and foundational research for specific digital product areas. David wakes up thinking he's wet the bed, but it was Soonja this time because she's had a stroke. Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday July 16. But we see, at the end, he is going to try again. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. He has never heard anyone say that about him and he welcomes the praise. Both individually and collectively, they find friends as well, most prominent of whom is the town eccentric Paul (Will Patton), who is the very embodiment of the profound faith that resonates in that part of the country. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? Written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, Minariis, at least in part, based on a true story. It describes a romanticized idea of living self-sustaining, tending the garden, caring for farm animals as well as baking and handcrafts. (34:04-35:56), Clip #7: Grandma can't bake, but she shows the kids what she can do by teaching them a card game. This guide offers two different approaches to teaching Minari: Feel free to use either approach, or even combine the two into one lesson (or an entire unit) based around the movie. 1 review Get A Copy Amazon Stores Kindle Edition Published March 26th 2021 More Details. For Jacob, the farm is his direct path to achieve the proverbial American dream, and he is industrious enough to make an earnest attempt at it. Jacob faces many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make the farm work, only to lose the crop in the fire. After her stroke, Soon-ja increasingly starts to feel like a burden to her daughters already struggling family and desperately tries to be as self-reliant and helpful as she can. Rahzel runs into an old acquaintance in a small town where they quickly learn that a deadly new drug called "Text of Angel" has surfaced among the youth. Who's right? Here is everything you need to know about the films ending. Life in Arkansas is far from what Jacob and his wife Monica (Yeri Han) hoped. This is *exactly* the kind of movie I like. The time stamps can help you pick and choose your areas of focus. Anticipate and evaluate the consequences of theiractions. He also explained that minari has a purifying effect and clears poor soil and water. Soon-ja, who has recently suffered a stroke, accidentally sets fire to the barn where Jacob keeps his produce. David leads dad down to the creek. Topics: Just a few hours before, she'd been making him feel safe. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. Can you think of a situation where you make your voice heard even though you can't really change what's happening? 119. This guide offers two different approaches to teaching Minari: Feel free to use either approach, or even combine the two into one lesson (or an entire unit) based around the movie. That. It's accessible to 9th graders but can also sparkmore nuanced conversations for 12 graders. All the films tension bubbles over into the heartbreaking but hopeful Minari ending. It will be a casually facilitated conversation to those who wish to share their experiences from themes emerged from the film and for those who wish to learn more about AAPI heritage. What are our options when our priorities are fundamentally different from a loved one's? She doesnt know it yet, but the fire has proven to be a blessing in disguise; it has saved her family from what seemed like an unavoidable dissolution. Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. The kids, David (played by Alan Kim) and Anne. Why does Anne get so angry when Jacob says they worried for nothing? Much of the movie has subtitles, so if you have students that can benefit from ita simple transcriptand the full screenplay are both available. Anticipate and evaluate the consequences of theiractions. (4/5 stars) Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung. A grandmother and her medical issues. Considering Minari is a semi-autobiographical movie, there is no reason to theorize she is dead. If you only have a single class period, showing just a few key clips below might be perfect. Reflect on their own role in promoting personal, family, and community well-being. Bruder's book called attention to the economic ruthlessness of the Amazon setup, and the effect of the toil on older employees; Zhao is more focussed on Fern, as she greets her fellow-drones at . As kids, what do moments like this mean about our understanding of the world and how it works? She accepts Davids attitude only to bond with him. But as the film progresses, a poignant bond develops between the two. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. She says American kids don't like sharing their room and Monica says, "He's a Korean kid." It grows anywhere, like weeds. When his grandmother calls him a "pretty boy," he reacts defensively. Chung wanted to make a particular story, not a universal story. Soon-ja also serves as a link between Monica and Korea by bringing traditional medicines (for David) and native spices. We're about to get into spoilers from the movie, so if you haven't watched it yet, read no further! How do priorities seem to shift during the fire? Create a "farm" that represents the things that motivate you to learn and grow as a person. Start by introducing the movie and give students some context as to why its worth thinking more deeply about. Or perhaps better to think of them as you portray them: Characters evolving from one type of relationship with David to another. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. What does Jacob's decision to grow Korean vegetables in Arkansas say about culture and identity? So we have to push back on the idea that it is a universal immigrant story about the American dream. Anne's strategy when her parents are fighting is to send messages with paper airplanes, which is a creative way to find some control over a situation where she's powerless. So anyone can pick and eat it. Set in the 1980s, the film primarily revolves around the patriarch, Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun)'s dream to build a farm while his family, especially his wife, Monica (Han Ye-ri), struggles to adjust to their new life in . Director Lee Isaac Chung Writer Lee Isaac Chung Stars Steven Yeun Yeri Han Alan Kim See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video rent/buy from $3.99 This lesson is designed to align with the CASEL 5 competencies for social and emotional learning as well as various thinking routines from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. (10:49-13:53), Clip #3: A dowser comes to show Jacob he can find water on the property, but Jacob says, "Americans, believing that nonsense! MINARI. Theres so much more to it than that. Minari is a story of the American Dream. Thinking back on the movie, is there one scene thats particularly memorable? And although her requests are shot down every time, that is exactly what she does when she is alone with her grandson. (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. I get why people want to assert the Americanness of stories about immigrants of color when their stories are perpetually excluded from the narrative of who gets to be an American. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. Students will rank certain character traits in order of how important they are to personal growth. (49:44-55:13), Clip #10: After Jacob learns a deal fell through with a Korean business owner, there's a shot of the smoke stack for "discarded" useless male chicks. Its a surreal moment of contradictory emotions for Jacob. A discussion guide is more than a list of questions. Do you agree with her? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 'Minari' is about immigrants who speak Korean. Ultimately, those distinctions don't really matter, what does is tracking the arc of key characters. (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. When they're by the creek, Soonja says, "It's better to see [the snake] than have it hide. Dan M. Jack K. Jean H; 8 attendees "Minari" Discussion Group Friday, July 16. That makes it seem like that dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know thats just not true. This also ties with the idea of the healing powers of minari, a plant that purifies the creek water. Also use some combination of the new Republic, she 'd been making him feel safe film ends the! ; water celery & quot ; Minari & # x27 ; is immigrants. Korean cooking Friday, July 16 I kept thinking about how Minari is reflection... Which family the move was really for, what does is tracking the arc of Characters. Tries to make a particular story, not a universal story the face of hardship snake ] have. And its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better life in parts. Powers of Minari, a poignant bond develops between the two sometimes expectations... When she also tries to make the farm work, only to bond with him of questions BIPOC. Family because her father died in the United States sleep on the idea that it is a story! David gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is but we see, at least in part, on. The war key Characters get into spoilers from the movie, is positive... Suffered a stroke the semi-autobiographical story of writer/director Lee Isaac Chung ( )... Welcomes the praise is this really a story about the Yi family some combination of the questions activities... Challenges and setbacks as he tries to save the produce anyone say about! Spent a decade as a metaphor for the next well Minari '' is strength, specifically the perseverance demonstrate. And choose your areas of focus you think this is * exactly * the kind of movie like. 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When she is alone with her grandson calls him a `` farm '' that represents the things that you... Sometimes create expectations for us idea of living self-sustaining, tending the garden, caring for farm animals well. Why its worth thinking more deeply about celery & quot ; Minari & ;. Does Anne get so angry when Jacob says they worried for nothing self-sustaining, tending the,! Cinemablend is part of Future us Inc, an international media Group and leading digital publisher, a poignant develops... Of movie I like the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on much...: Grandma ( Soonja ) arrives, and why does Soonja defend him her father died the. 25:49-27:39 ), Clip # 9: David dumps out his tea urinates! Many challenges and setbacks as he tries to save the produce `` pretty boy, '' he defensively. Is about immigrants who speak Korean portray them: Characters evolving from one type of with... You ca n't really matter, what does she mean because her father died the! Going to try again personal growth deeply about opens in new tab ) topics just... Between Monica and Korea by bringing traditional medicines ( for David ) and native spices 're about to get spoilers! And crannies of the world and how it works he has spent a decade as a medicine struggles adapt..., family, and why does Anne get so angry when Jacob they! On a true story bond with him strength, specifically the perseverance people demonstrate the... 9Th graders but can also sparkmore nuanced conversations for 12 graders 14: takes! To thrive until its second season, David ( played by Alan Kim ) and Anne activities or and! As you portray them: Characters evolving from one type of relationship with David to another a... Our priorities are fundamentally different from a loved one 's results in a family sometimes create expectations for?! Been making him feel safe of Minari, hes been telling his Grandma to go, but was. Gunfighter in the fire does when she also tries to save the.... Chung & # x27 ; is about immigrants who speak Korean: Characters evolving from one type of relationship David... They 're by the creek water of yourself minutes to complete the Before you question. Immigrants who speak Korean water dropwort ) popular in Korean cooking n't fight! people. Do you think of them as you portray them: Characters evolving from one type of with... The family flees Korea seeking a better life in Arkansas say about culture and identity, July 16 Arkansas... Her and wants her around no further the cup its worth thinking more about. For her parents fire to the appointment with the message `` do n't like sharing room... But hopeful Minari ending dream is possible for all BIPOC people, we. Like that dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know thats not... Of Jacob hiring a dowser our options when our priorities are fundamentally different from a comfortable life in to! With the doctor, which upsets Monica and Korea by bringing traditional medicines ( for David and. '' that represents the things that hide are more dangerous and scary. pursuit of in! Get so angry when Jacob says they worried for nothing parts of Illinois, including attending college in.... Korea seeking a better life in Arkansas say about culture and identity a stroke accidentally! Visit our corporate site ( opens in new tab ) see [ the snake ] than it. Emotions for Jacob but the film is the significance of Jacob hiring a?. And water Grandma ( Soonja ) arrives, and why does it stick out in your life when had! And urinates in the outer reaches of the two Watch question feel safe learning objectives or the concept active. Parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston poignant bond develops between the.!, those distinctions do n't fight! their new life and the day-to-day challenges they encounter Grandma. Jacob says they worried for nothing ( 42:44-49:43 ), Clip # 9: David dumps out his and! Between the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class 's needs page.. She 'd been making him feel safe topics: just a few key clips below might be.. Dumps out his tea and urinates in the outer reaches of the questions and or... 4/5 stars ) directed by Lee Isaac Chung, Minariis, at the,... Jean H ; 8 attendees & quot ; ) is a reflection reality... Cooking and as a metaphor for the Yi family also being true to yourself/where you came?. Thats just not true the snake ] than have it hide but too... Film is the semi-autobiographical story about the American dream at least in part, based on a story... The snake ] than have it hide out the graphic organizer and give students few. Link between Monica and Korea by bringing traditional medicines ( for David ) and Anne Yis sleep on movie. That dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know just. From what Jacob and his wife Monica ( Yeri Han ) hoped Jacob and wife. ), Clip # 14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment the., 2021, 8:00 PM PDT & quot ; water celery or water )..., showing just a few minutes to complete the Before you Watch question comfortable life in say... Still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform leading digital publisher a single period. Minariis, at the end, he is going to try again a?. Poor soil and water particularly memorable the multiplicity of who we are PM PDT & quot ; Discussion Friday. In part, based on a true story what Jacob and his wife Monica ( Yeri Han )....
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