LEE ISAAC CHUNG’s MINARI

BY: Amanda Jane Stern

Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari focuses on the Korean-American Yi family led by patriarch Jacob (Steven Yeun) and matriarch Monica (Han Ye-ri). They move from California with their two children, David (Alan Kim) and Anne (Noel Kate Cho), to a farm in Arkansas so Jacob can live out his American dream. After continuous setbacks and the possible dissolution of their marriage, Monica’s mother, Soon-ja (Youn Yuh-jung), moves from Korea to live with them. 

The story is based on Chung’s own life growing up the child of South Korean immigrant parents on a farm in rural Arkansas, with the young character of David as a stand-in for himself. All of the actors give stunning, nuanced performances in this story of family and the American dream. Yeun’s performance, in particular, has generated a ton of Oscar buzz, but all of the acting deserves attention as well. Han Ye-ri, a new-comer to American films delivers a beautiful portrayal of Monica, a woman who feels trapped by her husband’s farming dreams. Youn Yuh-jung gives one of the best supporting actress performances of the year as the foul-mouthed, doting grandma.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association HFPA (the governing body behind the Golden Globes) caused an uproar recently when it decided to put Minari in the Best Foreign Language category instead of the Best Motion Picture category because the film is primarily in Korean. It isn’t the first time the Globes have faced such controversy. There was a similar backlash last year when it put Lulu Wang’s The Farewell into the foreign film category as well. To be considered for the Best Motion Picture category, a movie must be at least 50% in English. Of course, this deliberate oversight on their part goes to a deeper issue of what can and should be considered American. The HFPA has made it pretty clear that they view whiteness as American. As has been pointed out, the HFPA gave Best Motion Picture nominations to both Inglourious Basterds and Call Me by Your Name, significantly in foreign languages too. The difference though, those languages were from European countries. To drive the point home even more, Inglourious Basterds was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, co-produced by a German production company, and filmed in Germany and France. Call Me by Your Name was written by James Ivory, directed by Italian director Luca Guadagnino, co-produced by American and European production companies, and filmed in Italy.

On the other hand, Minari was written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, who was born in Colorado and grew up in Arkansas, produced by two American production companies, and filmed entirely in Oklahoma. Does any of that sound foreign to you?

Minari had a one-week virtual release on December 11, 2020, and is set for theatrical release on February 12, 2021.