Minari (2020)
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A semi-autobiographical story follows a South Korean immigrant family attempting to establish a farm in rural Arkansas during the 1980s.
The story
In 1983, a family of South Korean immigrants moves from California to rural Arkansas. The father, Jacob Yi, believes the soil is fertile enough to grow Korean produce to sell to vendors in Dallas. While Jacob remains optimistic about their new life, his wife, Monica, is disappointed with their mobile home and the distance from urban amenities. Their son, David, has heart murmurs that require constant monitoring. The family's dynamic is further complicated when Monica's mother, Soon-ja, travels from South Korea to live with them and watch the children, leading to various domestic tensions and challenges as they strive to build a new life.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1983, a family of South Korean immigrants moves from California to rural Arkansas. Jacob Yi hopes to grow Korean produce for sale in Dallas, but his wife Monica is unhappy with their mobile home. Their son David suffers from heart murmurs. Monica's mother, Soon-ja, arrives from Korea to help with the children, but David initially avoids her. Soon-ja begins planting minari seeds by a creek, teaching David about the plant's resilience. When Jacob's well runs dry and a vendor cancels an order, tensions rise. Soon-ja eventually suffers a stroke, leaving her with impaired movement. After a medical specialist confirms David's condition has improved, Jacob makes a deal to sell vegetables to a Korean grocer. However, after a heated argument about their stability, the couple agrees to separate. They return home to find Soon-ja has accidentally set fire to the barn. They manage to save each other as the barn is destroyed. Overwhelmed with guilt, Soon-ja tries to flee, but the children lead her home. The family eventually sleeps together on the floor. Jacob finally permits a water diviner to spot a new well, and David shows him the minari harvest, noting that Soon-ja had picked a good spot to plant it.
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 115
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- Korean; English
- Directors
- Lee Isaac Chung
- Writers
- Lee Isaac Chung · writer; Hong Yeo-ul · translation
- Cast and characters
- Steven Yeun · Jacob Yi; Han Ye-ri · Monica Yi; Alan Kim · David Yi; Noel Kate Cho · Anne Yi (Ji-young, ); Youn Yuh-jung · Soon-ja (); Will Patton · Paul; Scott Haze · Billy; Jacob Wade · Johnnie
- Genres
- drama; independent
- Themes
- immigration; family dynamics; American dream; resilience
- Tone and mood
- intimate; heart-wrenching; tender; modest
- Premise and plot tags
- semi-autobiographical; immigrant experience; farming
- Source material / true-story basis
- Semi-autobiographical
- Content notes
- PG-13
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, being named one of the best films of 2020 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute, and cited as one of the best films of the 21st century.
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in Tulsa, Oklahoma, over 25 days.; The script was written in English, with some dialogue translated into colloquial Korean.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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