“Minari” Review
(From Left) Steven Yeun, Noel Kate Cho, Alan Kim and Han Ye-Ri star as the Yi family in Lee Isaac Chung’s semi-autobiographical film “Minari.”
After over a year of uncertainty, fear and sorrow caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, a film like “Minari” is necessary. This beautiful story about a family’s pursuit of the American dream is an uplifting piece of cinema from the modern masterpiece factory: A24.
Set in 1983, the film is focused on the Yi family, a family of Korean immigrants, who move to Arkansas where the patriarch of the family, Jacob (Steven Yeun) hopes to establish a farm. His family, composed of his wife Monica (Han Ye-ri), their two children Anne and David (Noel Kate Cho and Alan Kim) and his mother-in-law Soon-Ja (Youn Yuh-jung), also try to adjust to life in Arkansa and grow closer as a family as they navigate challenges that are thrown their way.
With a small cast and the film set mainly on this farm, everything about “Minari” feels cozy and warm. The film’s cinematography, helmed by Lachlan Milne, is breathtaking with every shot looking well-composed, beautiful and romantic.
Director/writer Lee Isaac Chung’s story is deeply personal, having based it on his own upbringing in rural Arkansas, and that attachment shines through in the film. Not all of the talent and technical wizardry in the world can replace personal investment and Chung’s work on this film has definitely earned him his nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the upcoming Academy Awards. Chung has mastered telling an upbeat story but also has a constant undertone suggesting that something could go wrong which many first-time farmers all feel.
Every member of this family is full of personality and their collective relationship feels real. The relationship between Monica and Jacob is especially interesting as Monica wants to support Jacob’s ambition but also has to remind him that they can’t think just of themselves and must consider what’s best for their children. Anne and David also spend a lot of time with their grandmother and have to adapt to her eccentric antics which is both hilarious and heartwarming.
Daniel’s (Left) relationship with his grandmother is one of the emotional highlights of “Minari.”
Both Steven Yeun and Youn Yuh-jung are magnificent and have rightfully been nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the upcoming Academy Awards. But Noel Kate Cho and Alan Kim also are fantastic and, if there was an Oscar category for Best Child Performance, both of them would be nominated. Also delivering a memorable performance is Will Patton as Paul, an eccentric Korean War veteran who helps Jacob establish his farm and brings unfiltered optimism to the family.
The film examines the assimilation of immigrants in American culture and how much of their homeland they keep with them. Throughout the film we see the Yi family speak Korean to each other and make Korean food while living in America, showing the beauty of their culture.
What makes “Minari” so touching is how relatable the story is. I love stories that can make me relate to those that are different from me because these stories are what make me see just how universal the human experience is. The pursuit of the American dream is one that we all share and, whether you’re a Korean immigrant trying to make it as a farmer or a white kid from rural Illinois pursuing filmmaking, we all can understand that longing for something better.
“Minari” is full of everything: comedy, drama, romance, setbacks and, most importantly, hope. And, after a long period of hopelessness, seeing this film is a joyful experience that everyone should decide to partake in.
