Overview of Minari
‘Minari’ is a family entertainer written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. The movie released in 2020 tells the story of Yi family’s life in Arkansas. The family encounters various domestic and other difficulties to hold a grip on the land of Arkansas.
The film is starred by Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho and Youn Yuh-jung and has received several prestigious awards.
Profile
- Name: ‘Minari’
- Genre: Drama
- Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung
- Starring: Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Youn Yuh-jung, Will Patton
- Written by: Lee Isaac Chung
- Produced by: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh
- Music by: Emile Mosseri
- Cinematography: Lachlan Milne
- Edited by: Harry Yoon
- Production Company: Plan B Entertainment
- Distributed by: A24
- Release dates: 26 January 2020 (Sundance), 11 December 2020 (United States)
- Running time: 115 minutes
- Country: United States
- Languages: Korean, English
Cast
- Steven Yeun as Jacob Yi
- Han Ye-ri as Monica Yi
- Alan Kim as David Yi
- Noel Kate Cho as Anne Yi
- Youn Yuh-jung as Soon-ja
- Will Patton as Paul
- Scott Haze as Billy
- Jacob Wade as Johnnie
- Skip Schwink as Doctor
Synopsis
A family of 4 moves from California to the calm and quiet outskirts of Arkansas. Jacob Yi chooses the place with the ambition to create a big garden. However, Monica Yi, his wife is worried about the new living environment chosen by her husband. She worries about the upbringing of their children in that land. Her major concern is David, their younger son suffering from heart disease. After reaching Arkansas, they start to work in a factory as the chicken sex checker.
To bring his garden to life, Jacob decides to dig a well. To take care of the children while they work, Soon-ja, Monica’s mother moves to the States to live with Yi family. As a Korean grandmother, she puts all her effort into being nice to her grandchildren and to adjust with their way of life.
Jacob’s dream of creating a prosperous garden faces a challenge when his well goes dry. Also, he runs into trouble when the Dallas’ vendors cancel their orders. The troubles cause friction in the marriage life of Jacob and Monica, and their children eavesdrop on their arguments.
One day Soon-ja and David go to plant minari seeds and slowly the bond between the grandmother and the grandson grows stronger. She takes care of his wounds, gives him lessons about ‘hwatu’ and at night she puts him to sleep. When Jacob and Monica restrict David’s engagement in physical activities due to his heart’s condition, Soon-ja encourages him to live the life of a child. In the middle of one night, Soon-ja gets disturbed by a stroke and the sudden illness degrades her ability to move and speak.
The new experiences of David with nature improve his heart. Despite the improvement in his health condition, Jacob and Monica take him to Oklahoma for treatment. There Jacob searches for opportunities to sell his products. The determination of Jacob to move forward with his plans in agriculture irritates Monica. In an argument, he once spill that his passion is more important to him than his family and eventually, they agree to split.
Making Jacob’s plans far away from reality, his barn catches fire because of Soon-ja. Jacob and Monica hurry to save the products seeing the barn in flames. The fire consumes almost everything inside the barn. Therefore, the couple decides to save each other.
Outside the barn, Soon-ja loses track of what is happening around her and walks aimlessly. David dashes to bring the wondering Soon-ja back, forgetting his difficulties and Anne, the daughter and David take Soon-ja home.
After a venturous day, they sleep on the floor, except Soon-ja. Sitting on a chair, she watches her children and grandchildren sleeping.
Later, Jacob and Marina seek the help of a water diviner to dig another well to continue their life in Arkansas. In the final scene, Jacob and David cultivate the minari planted by Soon-ja and David.
Theme
‘Minari’ tells the story of a Korean-American family. Jacob, the family man in the story, is influenced by the idea of the ‘American dream’ and is pursuing his passion of farming. He even risks his family to achieve his dream, but the rich land of Arkansas gives him a supportive family that he wishes for.
The soothing scenery of the movie brings bliss to the eyes of the viewers. To bring the power of nature to the screen, the film portrays the story of David. His release from the nutshell of his living environment with the assistance of his grandmother gives him a new life. Likewise, Monica also learns about the importance of nature in one’s life. By the end of the movie, she is giving a hand of support to Jacob in digging a well.
Awards
- Academy Awards 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung - Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung - American Film Institute 2021
Top 10 Movies of the Year - Austin Film Critics Association 2021
Best Film
Best Director – Lee Isaac Chung
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Original Screenplay – Lee Isaac Chung
Best Original Score – Emile Mosseri
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Ensemble – The cast of Minari - British Academy Film Awards 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung - Casting Society of America 2021
Low Budget – Comedy or Drama – Julia Kim and Chris Freihofer - Critics’ Choice Awards 2021
Best Young Performer – Alan Kim
Best Foreign Language Film - Detroit Film Critics Society 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Ensemble – The cast of Minari
Best Original Screenplay – Lee Isaac Chung - Golden Globe Awards 2021
Best Foreign Language Film - Hollywood Critics Association Awards 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Indie Film - Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2021
Best Original Score in an Independent Film – Emile Mosseri - Independent Spirit Awards 2021
Best Supporting Female – Youn Yuh-jung - New York Film Critics Online 2021
Best Picture
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Supporting Actress - Online Film Critics Society 2021
Best Film Not in the English Language - San Diego Film Critics Society Award 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Original Screenplay – Lee Isaac Chung - San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Original Screenplay – Lee Isaac Chung - Screen Actors Guild Awards 2021
Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture – Youn Yuh-Jung - Seattle Film Critics Society 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Youth Performance – Alan Kim - Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2021
Best Screenplay – Lee Isaac Chung - Vancouver Film Critics Circle 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Foreign Language Film - Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Youth Performance – Alan Kim - National Board of Review 2021
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung - Best Original Screenplay – Lee Isaac Chung
Top 10 Films of 2020 - Boston Society of Film Critics 2020
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung
Best Original Score – Emile Mosseri - Denver Film Festival 2020
Audience Award for Narrative Feature
Excellence in Acting Award – Steven Yeun - Florida Film Critics Circle 2020
Best Screenplay – Lee Isaac Chung - Los Angeles Film Critics Association 2020
Best Supporting Actress – Youn Yuh-jung - Sundance Film Festival 2020
U.S. Dramatic Competition Grand Jury Prize – Lee Isaac Chung
U.S. Dramatic Competition Audience Award – Lee Isaac Chung
Interesting Facts about Minari
- ‘Minari’ was written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung.
- ‘Minari’ has insights into the childhood life of Lee Isaac Chung.
- Lee Isaac Chung kept ‘Minari’ a secret from her parents until its final editing since she was scared of their reaction to the movie which contains the private life of their small family.
- ‘Minari’ finished its filming in 25 days.
- The meaning of the word ‘Minari’ is “water celery”.
- Youn Yuh-jung is the first South Korean artist to win the ‘Academy Award’ for acting the role of Soon-ja.
- The script of ‘Minari’ was originally written in English and the Korean dialogues in the movie are translated from English to Korean.
- Han Ye-ri and Youn Yuh-jung stayed in the Airbnb during the filming.
FAQs
- Who is the director of the movie ‘Minari’?
Lee Isaac Chung is the director of ‘Minari’. - When is the film ‘Minari’ released?
‘Minari’ is released on 26 January 2020 in Sundance and 11 December 2020 in the United States. - Who acted as David Yi in ‘Minari’?
Alan Kim played the role of David Yi in ‘Minari’. - What is the Instagram ID of Steven Yeun?
@steveyeun
