Released on February 12, 2021, semi-autobiographical film Minari explores hope alongside the power of a familial bond. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, his new film chronicles the journey of a Korean family’s immigration to rural Arkansas and their yearning for a chance at a better life.
Matriarch of the Yi family, Monica (played by actress Han Ye-ri) makes her distaste for the family’s move from California present from the moment she glances at the trailer in which the family will now call home. Her utter disgust prevails throughout the film, but her dedication to her family ultimately buoys her.
Her husband, Jacob (played by The Walking Dead star Steven Yeun), on the other hand, proves committed to farming which prompted the family’s move from California in the first place. His quixotic idea of farming life puts immense strain on the family, encouraging an onslaught of issues within his marriage and relationship with his children.
With dreams of farming traditional Korean foods, Jacob takes on unforeseen challenges as he navigates the unforgivable nature of the 1980’s North American landscape. Finding and losing water, struggling to find vendors, and integrating his family into Arkansas culture, Jacob sinks to the pits of despair without ever giving up hope. This unwavering dedication proves almost toxic, as he entertains the idea of staying behind as his family considers moving back west.
Touching on racial and socio-economic influences in the United States, Chung shares his story of growing up, prompting strong and powerful emotional connections to the characters. The film combines both traditional Korean and American influences, with Chung citing a list of his childhood memories as inspiration for the screenplay. His authenticity portrays humanity in an approachable yet mesmeric way, capturing both the hardships and bounties of starting a new life.
Chung’s juxtaposition of Korean and American traditions and ways of life illicit compassion for each member of the family in their own ways. Each struggling with various issues, the mother with her rejection of Arkansas life, the father with his reluctance to abandon his dreams, the grandmother with her navigation through mistake and regret, the sister with taking on a parental role, and finally the brother with his heart condition and his unshared excitement for life, all represent different facets of maturation and self-growth as the family navigates their new life in America.
Minari offers a compelling take on strenuous familial struggles, simultaneously highlighting the realness of a familial bond and the harsh reality of the working class in 1980’s North America. The film leaves lots of questions unanswered, but the overall message proves conclusion enough; leaving audiences moved and introspective, reflecting on their own family ties.
