Minari is defined as a hardy Asian vegetable that can thrive and grow in diverse climates. The film ‘Minari’ had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last year in January. It won the top Grand Jury Prize. It is undeniably one of my favorite films of the year. It has all the elements necessary for a story to resonate. It has unforgettable performances, lively dialogue, lush cinematography and a moody soundtrack. Above and beyond that is the way filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung tells his semiautobiographical tale. It is an immigrant story that has been told before but it feels universal and relatable to all audiences. ‘Minari’ is a must-see this award season.
The time is the 1980s. Korean parents Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Yeri Han) made the decision to move their family to live in rural Arkansas. They have two American-born children, their son David (Alan S. Kim) and daughter Anne (Noel Cho). It is a hard move for the family. They are leaving the big city of Los Angeles with a large Asian enclave to virtually none. Jacob has an American Dream like so many before him. His dream consists of farming Korean vegetables. In order to win over his skeptical wife, he grabs a handful of dirt and proclaims, “Look at the color. This is why I picked this place. This is the best dirt in America.”
For the last decade, Jacob and Monica have worked meager paying jobs as chicken sexers. It sounds like an odd job but is an essential process at poultry farms to separate the male and female chicks. As the family station wagon drives up to their new home, Monica is disappointed. The mobile home is on cinder blocks. Jacob reaches out his hand to his wife to check out the inside of the house. There are no stairs so she climbs up on her own. She is not impressed. Another worry is that her son David has a heart murmur and the closest hospital is an hour away. Nothing is going to change Jacob’s mind. He is determined to make it work.
The story really takes off when the grandmother Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) comes to stay with the family. On her arrival, she bears gifts to her daughter Monica. They are hard to get items such as Korean chili powder and anchovies. Monica almost bursts into tears. Soonja teases, “Over anchovies? It is the grandmother that brings the seeds of minari, an herb that is used in many Korean dishes. The metaphor is clear. Once planted, the minari can thrive in foreign climates. At first, little David wants nothing to do with his Korean grandmother. He remarks, “Grandma smells like Korea.” As the story progresses, Soonja and David form a strong bond. The surprise is how quickly she adapts to her new environment. She even takes a liking to Mountain Dew and pro wrestling.
‘Minari’ is a funny and poignant immigrant story. It is not only about a family searching for the American Dream. It is about a family believing in themselves. You don’t have to be an immigrant to relate to the story. It resonates with universal themes. Life is a struggle. The story reminds us the true meaning of family. In the closing scenes, you are surprised how invested you are in the characters. That’s the power of this film. The Minari plant can grow anywhere. The executive producer of this film is actor Brad Pitt. His production company Plan B will most definitely reap a good harvest this award season for ‘Minari.’
