Minari is a 2020 American drama film directed by Lee Isaac Chung, and it is based on his own childhood experiences. The film stars Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, and Youn Yuh-jung. The movie was originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, and went on to win the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. dramatic competition.
Set in the 1980s, the movie follows the Yi family, who are Korean immigrants, as they move from California to rural Arkansas, where they hope to make a better life for themselves. Jacob, the father of the family, is a hardworking man who has a dream of starting his own farm on the land he purchased. His wife, Monica, struggles to adjust to their new surroundings, and finds it especially hard to live in a mobile home in the middle of nowhere. Their children, David and Anne, also find it hard to adapt to their new life, and David, in particular, is naughty and rebellious.
As Jacob works hard to build his farm and provide for his family, tensions rise between him and his wife, who worries about their financial situation. Meanwhile, David forms an unlikely bond with his grandmother, Soon-ja, who comes to stay with them from Korea. Soon-ja is unapologetically outspoken and blunt, and she brings a sense of vitality and joy to the family. Through the course of the movie, the family faces various challenges, but they learn to come together and support each other in times of need.
Overall, Minari is a heartwarming and honest portrayal of the immigrant experience and the struggles of making a new life in a foreign land. Through its portrayal of a Korean American family, the movie touches on themes of identity, family, sacrifice, and the pursuit of the American Dream.
