Set in the early 1980s, Minari (at least on the surface) is typical story about immigration, growing into something and the eponymous 'American dream': The idea that one can make something of themselves. A small Korean family moves into a farmland in rural Arkansas.27 Apr 2021
What is so great about Minari?
“Minari” is partly the story of his struggle to get the business off the ground. The film's moods and rhythms — the gentle intensity of the scenes, the way the plot emerges from hard work, careful attention and the mysterious operations of the natural world — feel rooted in agrarian life.26 Apr 2021
Why is the movie called Minari?
Minari is named after the Korean plant that grandma Soonja (Youn) grows in the woods. Chung named the film after it. “Minari is a vegetable that you find a lot in Asia,” Chung said. “My grandmother brought over minari seeds from Korea and we planted those seeds in this little creek bed in Arkasas.2 Jun 2021
What happens to Grandma at the end of Minari?
Chung's own grandmother died when he was 16, and in Minari her fate after a stroke is left ambiguous, as she is missing from the final shot in the film. “I had a moment where we see that she's still alive, before they go off to pick the minari," Chung says of an earlier edit of the film.4 Apr 2021
What was the point of the movie Minari?
Those who have watched Minari know what a true treasure director Lee Isaac Chung was able to create. The film — starring Steven Yeun, Yeri Han and Alan Kim — highlights a Korean-American family's move from California to an Arkansas farm in the 1980s and their quest for stability and success amid arising challenges.24 Apr 2021
What does Minari mean in Korean?
What does "minari" mean? Minari is a plant native to East Asia and found in a lot of South Korean cooking, according to FoodNetwork.com. Specifically, this name describes what others call "pennywort" or "water parsley" and is known for its somewhat bitter and peppery flavor. It's a poetic plant in a way for me.24 Apr 2021
How true is Minari?
Yes. Not everything that happens in Minari is a reflection of reality, but the film is the semi-autobiographical story of writer/director Lee Isaac Chung. Chung based the film on what he remembers from the time that his dad moved his family to Arkansas to pursue his dream of being a farmer.26 Feb 2021
What is the story behind Minari?
Minari is about an Asian-American family who move to rural Arkansas for father Jacob's dream of starting a farm and digging for a better life. The film's grandmother figure, who watches wrestling in her underwear and sneaks Mountain Dew from the children, is inspired by Chung's own family.4 Apr 2021
How much of Minari is true?
The film is semi-autobiographical, inspired by Chung's experiences growing up on a farm in Arkansas, the son of South Korean immigrants. And while it isn't “based on real events,” the people who inspired the family at the center of Minari are very much real. Chung's parents still do, in fact, own a farm in Arkansas.26 Feb 2021
Is Minari an autobiographical?
Director Lee Isaac Chung says the film was inspired by his own rural upbringing. Director Lee Isaac Chung's inspiration for Minari, his semi-autobiographical film about a Korean American father who moves his family to a farm in rural Arkansas, began with a list. Chung had been struggling to settle on a new project.3 Mar 2021
What can we learn from Minari?
There is also a heart-breaking moment in the film where he stresses that the farm is his biggest priority. This teaches us that one must find the right balance between career and family and not lose sight of either. Throughout the film, we witness the strain on Monica and Jacob's relationship getting worse.2 Jun 2021