Meh.
It’s ok.
It’s about a family going through the ups and downs of life.
I thought it would be about them facing discrimination in rural Arkansas. It thankfully avoided that usual trope. Unless I’m missing something.
[8.6/10] There are two abiding images in Minari. The first is the smoke billowing out of a stack at the hatchery where Jacob and Monica, the parents of a young Korean immigrant family, work. Jacob tells his little son, David, that it’s the male chicks being discarded. When David inquires about what that means and why, Jacob resolutely explains that those male chicks aren’t useful, and this is what the world does to things that aren’t, so they had better keep themselves useful.
It’s a haunting fable for a young father who aspires to be a farmer, moves his family halfway across the country, and struggles to make ends meet. Jacob’s dream is to build something himself, to succeed on his own terms, rather than stare at chicken behinds until he dies. But it’s a hard life, full of backbreaking labor and uncertain prospects for success given the vicissitudes of weather and access to water and other challenges. And it puts a strain on Jacob and Monica’s marriage, particularly when Monica is ready to return to their old life in California rather than brave such hardships with variable, at best, chances for reward.
But it’s also a concerning image for David, a young boy with a heart murmur. Given his condition, his parents discourage him from running or doing much of anything strenuous. His father tells him to use his mind instead, to learn about this world and how to make value with your wits. As the family scrimps and labors, Jacob and Monica working one job during the workday and Jacob slaving away at the farm in his free hours, you can feel them trying to stay ahead of that smoke, to avoid being cast aside or left behind for failing to prove themselves sufficiently useful to this world.
The other abiding image is the titular minari plant. Monica’s mother, referred to as Grandma, brings the seeds from Korea and plants them in a nearby creek with her grandson. She tells David that it can grow anywhere. She reassures him that it’s for rich and poor alike, built to flourish under so many conditions that it’s there for anyone to eat and enjoy.
It feels like a metonym for the Yi family, a Korean family who’ve planted themselves in the wilds of rural Arkansas and find their own way to take root. There is something hearty about the plant, able to grow and sustain itself despite the markedly different conditions from whence it came. For an immigrant family, struggling in places but striving to get by, there is hope in that native plant finding a new home in unfamiliar land and sprouting toward the sky nonetheless.
With those two guiding themes -- the threat of the wafting smoke and the hope of the sprouting herb -- Minari is a heartfelt, hilarious, and ultimately poignant story of this relatable family braving its way through a unique situation. Writer and director Lee Isaac Chung uses that pair of images as his lodestone to guide the film’s story, but more than anything, it plays like a slice of life movie. Just witnessing the vignettes of the Yi family adjusting to life in Arkansas (or not adjusting to it), trying to make farm life work, or acclimate the addition of an elder to the immediate family, is worth the price of admission separate and apart from the movie’s larger aims.
It works as a farm movie. Separate and apart from the compelling immigrant story, folks who grew up reading these types of tales of folks trying to make a recalcitrant farm work will recognize the beats, and they’re done with aplomb here. It works as a transplant story, with the bits of cultural exchange we see both within the family and the community it represents, as well as with the Arkansas community they’ve joined. The glimpses of the places where the two intersect are fascinating, measuring differences and similarities in ways both affecting and amusing.
But boy is there amusement to be had when Grandma shows up. The heart of the movie comes in her relationship with David, and the two make for an adorable and uproariously funny pair. There is a forthrightness to both of them that cannot help but simultaneously endear them to the viewer and tickle your funny bone. Grandma will rattle off lines like “You make this kid so much crap,” or “So I drank a little pee! It was fun!” or David will drink a Korean home remedy and say something frank like, “Grandma, never ever bring this again” and it’s impossible not to be charmed by the homespun and hilarious matter-of-factness that becomes the foundation of their friendship.
The growth of that friendship is the strongest element in an already strong movie. At first, David rejects the grandmother who just arrived from Korea for seeming strange and unfamiliar and “not a real grandma.” But as their time together on the farm progresses, she encourages him, she shares their family’s culture with him, she sees his unassuming strength despite his condition, and in the film’s most heart-warming scene, she wraps him up tight to protect him from death or fate or whatever forces would dare do harm to such a sweet little boy.
And in the end, he returns the favor. After a distraught, stroke-debilitated grandmother wanders off, blaming herself for catastrophe, David and Ann stop her. They try to bring her back home, having accepted her as a vital part of that family, loving her no matter what condition she’s in. Whether it was Grandma’s healing prayer, or the country air, or the simple biological processes of the human body, a check-up for David reveals that his condition is getting better, that he is stronger than anyone but Grandma thought, and he uses that strength to chase after her and bring her home.
Such caring is necessary because she accidentally set the family barn ablaze, replete with the fruits and vegetables Jacob had just made a deal to sell to a shop in Oklahoma City. In one accidental conflagration, months of work, piles of debt, burn up into nothing. It’s telling that Jacob runs in, potentially to be consumed by that same black smoke that would mark him as a failure, as something less than useful to be discarded by this world.
And yet, the wife who was (not unreasonably) ready to move on from all of this, runs in to save him. As the smoke grows denser, they call for one another, fulfilling the promise to save each other. Their future is uncertain, but it points toward hope, toward something binding them together beyond the need for good times and financial security to sustain them.
The closing moments of the film see the Yi family huddled on the floor together in the aftermath, as Jacob wanted the night they moved in. It’s a sign of solidarity and family togetherness. And when Jacob and David go to the “Minari Creek” to find the fruits of what Grandma planted, they find the herb has given them something to hold onto nonetheless. Despite this unusual environment far different from the place where these seeds were formed, they persevere and sustain. So too does the Yi family, despite great hardship, survive and maybe even flourish, with one another’s help.
Minari is an emotionally engaging and beautiful film. I had just learned this film existed a few weeks ago but since this film was getting such high praise I went into this with pretty high expectations. This is such a gentle yet emotionally straining film, it’s truly a special experience to watch. The plot is great it’s an entertaining and deeply engaging story. It starts off as a story that has been told before but becomes much much more. The pacing is great from the first scene until the credits role it’s well paced. The acting is great Steven Yeun and Yeri Han give great performances. Yuh-Jung Youn gives a fantastic supporting performance, she is easily one of the best parts of this film. Alan S. Kim and Noel Cho give great child performances as well.
The direction is fantastic from Lee Isaac Chung, his direction is incredibly impressive and you can tell he was very passionate about making this. The script is great it’s a memorable and very well written script. The cinematography is fantastic, this film is full of shots that are so beautiful it’ll make your jaw drop. There is a certain shot where Jacob and Monica are watching the kids playing in the hospital waiting room and the camera focuses back and forth on the two faces. That one shot perfectly captures the story of the characters in less than a minute. The editing is great and the score is great as well.
The comedy is very subtle but when there is comedy it’s wholesomely funny. In terms of the Oscars there’s a strong possibility that this will sadly be overlooked/snubbed. If this did get it’s deserved attention from the academy I feel this would probably get nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actress: Yuh-Jung Youn. The ending scenes of the film are very emotional and the last shot is just brilliant. Overall Minari is wonderfully wholesome and emotionally engaging film that is truly a special movie.
(9 out 10)
I don't see why this movie has such high ratings. I REALLY tried to like it, but it was just plain boring. There was little connection to the characters. The grandma was the only character worth noting. Life is hard. Farming is hard. Marriage is hard. Nothing new in this movie. What is the relevance of Minari? Are they comparing the plant to Korean people? That both can grow anywhere? Mind blown. /s
I watched this movie with no idea of its plot or genre and I am shocked. It is a soft, simple but overly powerful film. The film shows you what a home really is and the weight of family ties. The script is brilliant. The performances left me speechless, especially Alan Kim. The casting to find that kind of talent and framing in the characters was perfect. My favorite A24 film so far.
Nominated for 6 Oscars (2021) in a field of equally lauded offering, this story of struggle, family and dreams is a winner. The story is unique yet classic, the performances are well articulated (Yuh-Jung Youn is phenomenal in her role), the struggle is real and the character arcs are poignant. I was once told I was stingy with my 10s, but this Oscar’s Best Picture category is filled with them, even though they are all very different from each other. I give this film a 10 (captivating) out of 10. [Drama]
This is such a beautiful movie and very aesthetically pleasing, along with that the cast did their absolute best portraying a young immigrant family that are going through a though time assimilating and working on making ends needs which is highly relatable with most of us.
The fact that most of the movie is in Korean also helps with making it feel so much more realistic.
I definitely thought that there would be some dark moments since it involves an immigrant family trying to settle in during the 80s but I was surprised at how light it is and I appreciate that.
I can definitely see why it was nominated an Oscar.
Nothing new. Life is hard. Marriage is hard. Even farming is also hard... Kinda boring.
Story: 9...simple, touching, uniquely avoiding racial tropes, and such powerful metaphor throughout
Script: 9...wonderful and surprising dialogue, depth expressed by every character, and some really powerful lines
Performances: 10...everyone will talk about the grandma, but each actor is extraordinary in their portrayal...really appreciated how carefully Paul walks the line between crazy and wise, and his relationship with Jacob is great
Misc.: 9...cinematography and score are exceptional
Influence: 8
Overall: 9
I really felt like this was an authentic film. We've seen the main theme before and at several points in the movie it seemed like the movie might go down a specific path but it never does. The addition of the grandmother really brought a nice bit of humor and color to the movie that it didn't seem to have before. The whole film is extremely subtle and for those who are patient enough to invest yourself in it the reward is excellent.
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I'm sitting here, bawling through the credits, and I see:
Executive Producer: Brad Pitt
And I can't help but laugh. Seeing his name felt so absurd there.
What an amazing movie. "That was so sad!" I sobbed into my fiance's shirt. "You thought that was sad?" she questioned. That about sums up this movie.
It's about family, and how hard it is for some folks to keep their heads above water. It made me consider my privilege, and how lucky I've been.
The movie is gorgeous. And the script is fantastic. I was impressed by the child actors as well.
Give this one a watch, and bring tissues.
Minari surprised me. It's follows a Korean family moving to Arkansas in the 1980s. I loved the way that the movie gave us everything we needed to know through its scenes. We learned that the son had a heart condition through the mother telling him not to run and then seeing her check his heart. We see that there is lingering issues related to their extended families through an argument the mother and father have clearly had multiple times. Most importantly, we see what drives the father when his son asks him what the smoke is coming from the plant where both parents work sexing chickens and he explains that is where the males go because there is no use to them.
I was enthralled. The performances are fantastic, even the children where I'm normally hesitant on. I loved the dynamic between the family. It's a gorgeous film with some funny moments and a whole lot of heart. The ending was truly beautiful.
A gorgeously filmed movie that beautifully juxtaposes the despair throughout. It's a tough film that deals with the struggles of immigration, hardships, grief, marital tension, family trauma, but doesn't miss the importance of delivering a message of hope through perseverance. It's a wonderful film.
Nothing new. Life is hard. Marriage is hard. Even farming is also hard... Kinda boring.
In reality, life is like this: things go wrong, suddenly they get better, then worse ... But you have to continue, you have to fight.
Great performances bring to life this intimate family drama. The ending disappoints slightly due to a lack of narrative conclusion but otherwise, this is a well made movie that is mostly worthy of the praise it has garnered.
A very real story.
I didn’t quite understand Monica’s decision towards the end. It felt to me like Jacob was doing it for his family and didn’t choose one over the other. Perhaps she thought that his obsession with his passion was the cause of all their suffering?
Absolutely heartbreaking when the produce went up in flames. I am glad that brought them together. However, the highlight is really the growth of the relationship between grandma and grandson. I especially love Anne’s maturity under the circumstances too. A lot is required of these kids and they grow up strong as a result of their experiences.
"It's not called a penis, it's called a ding-dong!"
This is a great film about struggle, change, and working hard for what you have. If you want to feel your heart warm up and maybe let your emotions come out a bit, this movie is good for you. Some scenes hit hard for me since I too came from overseas and lived a few years in Arkansas.
This semi-biopic by Lee Isaac Chung is one of the most authentic American films I've seen. Its deliberate and quiet pacing allow the viewers to experience and feel the first year of Jacob's family's struggle in rural Arkansas farmland.
Jacob (Steven Yeun) puts everything on the line, taking on debt and working on another job to seek a tiny bit of success and redemption. To cope with seemingly unsurmountable challenges, he turns a blind eye to his family.
His family has sacrificed so much to support Jacob, including maternal grandmother Soonja (Yuh-jung Youn) who left the comfort of her home country to live remaining life in isolation to serve her daughter's family.
To me, this film is ultimately about persevering and knowing what matters. All of the cast embodies their character, including young Alan Kim and Noel Kate Cho. Ye-ri Han is an underrated unsung hero, who carries the suffering and pain of her family.
And what can say about Steven Yeun and Yuh-jung Youn. They just disappear into their role, letting us feel all of their sufferings and tiny moments of joy.
At times, Minari can be painful to watch. Many scenes remind me a part of my memory tucked deep inside. But as the film ends, I was overcome with catharsis.
Beautiful movie! Don’t let the subtitles throw you off... it’s definitely worth watching.
This film kind of left me speechless. I came into it expecting a more light-hearted watch, and came out with so much gratitude and hopefulness after so much pain and conflict. It really is just a beautiful movie.
(8/10)
What the heck!? Left clueless at end. No definitive ending..
Beautiful, heartfelt, touching film about family and real life. Cinema can get so sensational sometimes, and that's fine, but when a film as grounded as Minari comes around it's like a breath of fresh air, bringing you closer to your own humanity. My favourite of the 2020/21 season so far.
One of the most beautiful movies I've seen.
good movie but the ending is very abrupt. doesn't conclude
三星半, watched at 2021-01-04, imported from douban
Probably deserves a better rating than the one I gave it. It’s just not my type of film which made it hard to get into. Everything was fine but my interest level.
I liked it. It had the magic touch and some scenes with music reminded me of Terrence Malick. However I wasn't satisfied at the end. I think it needed something more, something extra at the end.
Like a vegetable plate being delivered to my table, this was well made but it's not for me.
I'm not a big fan of family drama or nature or farms or vegetables so... I can appreciate the actors (especially Youn Yuh-jung and a nearly unrecognizable Will Patton) but I found the story as predictable as a dowsing rod in a desert.
Minari is a poignant, moving, and heartwarming story of a Korean immigrant family wanting to live the big American dream. The movie makes you emotionally attached to the characters through their struggles and brings out a smile from time to time. In short, Minari is a stunning portrayal of hope, faith, and family with honest performances which makes it a universal film.
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Expected much more but it was fair enough. 6/10
Direct to the heart. This movie wraps you up and makes you feel part of the family, suffering and enjoying it. I discovered shortly after watching the movie that the story is inspired by the director's own experience, in fact there are almost identical photos of the house, which in my opinion gives an even more special shine to this story.
Unfortunately, the character of the daughter is very much wasted, and the macho air of the father makes the final result a bit bitter, but part of this, highly highly recommended.
Wow I need Alan Kim to introduce every movie I watch from now on, what a wonderful surprise before the movie!
Will Patton is fantastic as the crazy-ligious Korea war veteran. Clear winner of the Oscar for supporting actor this year if it was up to me.
A lovely film I enjoyed from start to end, or almost to the end since I found the ending a little bit to abrupt which bereaves it from the top grade.
Moving on delicate terrain, transmitting emotions in a subtle way, this chronicle of the modern American dream manages to convey a leisurely proximity. This connection between traditions, religion and unfulfilled dreams always moves in a balance that is achieved thanks to the profile of the characters. The simplicity of his proposal does not hide the depth of his development, the kind but also painful gaze towards a difficult life in an opposite context.
i really liked the "never pay for anything you can find for free" part, overall nice movie, great acting from ev.one
Review by Matthew Luke BradyBlockedParent2021-01-28T19:22:37Z
“A broken ding-dong”
‘Minari’ is one of those "slice of life" movies set in 1980’s Arkansas, where a Korean family try to start a farm and make ends meet. This is the type of movie that even though the story is about a Korean immigrant family, you can still draw a deep emotional connection to it.
While the subject matter can have its dramatic elements, but it’s not to say the movie doesn’t have a sense of humor. It’s funny and incredibly endearing to watch. The movie does a great job of making you care about this family and you wish everything would work out for them. All thanks to the amazing script that helps flesh out the characters and made them all complex.
The performances from Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, and Youn Yuh-jung were all fantastic. Even from the child actors, Alan S. Kim and Noel Cho, gave great performances, especially during the more dramatic parts of the movie. Just goes to show there are great child actors out there.
The score, composed by Emile Mosseri, was superb and mixed Western and eastern styles to create a uniquely rich score. The movie itself looks so warm and sunny. The bright sun made all the mixture of different colours like green and blue look so luminous, it felt peaceful.
I can tell a story like this came from a personal place from director Lee Isaac Chung. You see, he came from a Korean family and he spend his childhood in Arkansas. The story was told from the heart and it was beautiful to watch.
Overall rating: A touching and heartfelt movie that deserves all the praise it’s getting. If you get the chance, check this one out.