Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. Without forcing emotions on the audience, it gives them the room to step back and see how these characters live their lives and go through growing pains. What do you think this statement shows about Jacob's motivations? But just as Crazy Rich Asians did in 2018, Minari carries the weight of representation, of helping us as Asian Americans validate ourselves through the hope that we will see our stories onscreen and the hope that people will see us. Throughout Minari, hes been telling his grandma to go, but hes finally embraced her and wants her around. But we can discuss that further in Part 3: Characters. After living in America for a few years, sexing chickens for below minimum wage, the family decides to pack their bags and head from California to Arkansas to start a farm. She accepts Davids attitude only to bond with him. You can use these additional prompts (which don't appear on the student handout) to guide students in a writing project or a more comprehensive discussion about the movie's major themes. The True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear' Is Lowkey Sad, All the Best Movies Highlighting Black Characters, All the Austin Butler Movies to Catch Up on, The 34 Best Comedies on Hulu to Watch Now, Important: All of Marvels Upcoming Releases. Show the entire film with a more in-depth lesson plan and. Do you agree with her? And the fire is completely a Trickster type of thing. A FOOW (Fish-Out-Of-Water) dynamic. And again, the event in the plotline spurs trouble within the family as Soonja disappears, a crisis the family has to deal with. Help students reflect on what motivates who we become and how we grow. His wife struggling to understand that dream. (1:02:06-1:03:57), Clip #11: After David gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is. Monica wants a sense of community. 0. Monica explains that her mom has no other family because her father died in the war. If . Jacob faces many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make the farm work, only to lose the crop in the fire. How would you describe the behavior of the people at church toward the Yi family? Jacob and she accept that their marriage is done. The film ends with the visit from a water dowser, who points towards a location for the next well. We see David really run for the first time because hes no longer burdened by the heart murmur and he wants to stop his grandma from leaving. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? Make sure to pause periodically (feel free to use the timestamps above) and give kids a chance to write or draw responses to the prompts on their handouts. Both individually and collectively, they find friends as well, most prominent of whom is the town eccentric Paul (Will Patton), who is the very embodiment of the profound faith that resonates in that part of the country. In the meantime, I am sharing some of the best and most heartwarming quotes from the film. But when the fire turns into a raging inferno, they must decide what is most important to them and leave the rest. Why or why not? It's expected to be a favorite for several major awards and. Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. Yes, on both counts. As a family car travels through a green American landscape, the earth itself seems to be speaking to the characters, and through them, to us. Since the diagnosis, the distraught parents have consciously provided David with a sheltered existence. Soon-ja comes to live with her daughter and her family because of David. Monica explains that her mom has no other family because her father died in the war. Step 3: Write instructions for any user activities. Not all Koreans have experienced immigration, but Minari will be able to resonate with all of us because it reminds us of our own childhood memories and families. A grandmother and her medical issues. I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this weeks script: Minari. People often fall into roles in families: The peacemaker, the comedian, the caretaker, etc. Dan M. But isnt it possible to also particularize Asian American stories beyond the problematic idea that we can all achieve the American dream, especially since that dream can be a nightmare for BIPOC communities? And although her requests are shot down every time, that is exactly what she does when she is alone with her grandson. Meanwhile, grandma Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) faces a trash fire that becomes uncontrollable. It's a specific instrument. Privacy Policy. Minor spoilers ahead for Minari.. Common Sense Media. That. Korean people use their heads." 18. The movie's final scene is of Jacob and David at the creek picking minari, the only thriving plant. Minari DRAMA A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Please refresh the page and try again. The problem is, Jacob doesnt have a particularly high opinion of the other Korean immigrants. Running time: 115 min. But I kept thinking about how Minari is being marketed and wondered, Is this really a story about the American dream? To her surprise and horror, he picks the latter. Monica still wants to leave Jacob, and then all the produce is destroyed. What I'll share worked for me for in-depth interviews, prototype testing and foundational research for specific digital product areas. They'll also considerhow this might play out for others who aren't like themselves. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. We also see the Yi family sleeping on the floor together. (25:49-27:39), Clip #5: Grandma (Soonja) arrives, and David is unsure about her. (10:49-13:53), Clip #3: A dowser comes to show Jacob he can find water on the property, but Jacob says, "Americans, believing that nonsense! Why? Ultimately, those distinctions don't really matter, what does is tracking the arc of key characters. Except for David, all Yi family members, his parents and his sister Anne (Noel Kate Cho), were born in Korea. * The fire: A major reversal, indeed, the destruction of what Jacob had worked so hard to build, the barn a symbol of what the farm *could* be. Written by: Lee Isaac Chung. Students will also reflect on how their own sense of identity has developed within their family and community -- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. Can you think of a situation where you make your voice heard even though you can't really change what's happening? Does she find it at church? (34:04-35:56), Clip #7: Grandma can't bake, but she shows the kids what she can do by teaching them a card game. The heartfelt film from the studios of A24 tells the tender story of a Korean-American family that starts a farm growing Korean vegetables and endures the struggles of building a home in 1980s Arkansas. Why or why not? She lets him know that she can no longer be with him. We also see Monica and Paul (Will Patton) with Jacob as he pays to find a new water well, something he was against in the beginning. In the closing scenes, Jacob and David visit the creek to collect minari, which have grown in abundance since Soon-ja planted them. Minari also symbolizes the Yis story. As kids, what do moments like this mean about our understanding of the world and how it works? Promotions, new products and sales. Minari is wonderful, wonderful!". -- can shift one's priorities? You might also want to discuss some of the learning objectives or the concept of active viewing. Warning! Follow More from Medium Bryan Ye in. Chung based the film on what he remembers . "Wonderful, wonderful!" The dual-language Minari Screenplay Book features Korean translations of all texts alongside the original English. Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. What scene, and why does it stick out in your mind? Seeing as the movie is about the struggles of trying to get a farm up and running, it's not surprise that three big events -- well, two really big ones, another which is not as dramatic visually, but just as impactful -- are tied to weather and the land: * The tornado: Not only a danger in and of itself, but a metaphor for the "storm" within the family. Later, Anne asks David if he wants to live with mom or dad. Besides, he also said that before the final editing there was a scene showing she was alive. Demonstrate personal and collective agency. Complex characters. Soon after moving to Arkansas with their son, David (Alan S. Kim), and daughter, Anne (Noel Cho), and taking on the monumental project of starting a farm, it becomes clear that the family needs extra help, so Monicas mother, Soon-ja (played by the wonderful Yuh-Jung Youn), moves in to help Monica take care of the kids while Jacob pursues his dream. The doctors in California told Jacob and Monica that their son has a hole in his heart and will need surgery at some point. Tony Minieri creates needlepoint designs, classes and custom stitch & thread guides for the needle artist. For Monica, his decision comes as an ultimate betrayal. DISCUSSION GUIDES 1. Minari is a semi-autobiographical drama film about a Korean-American family growing up in rural Arkansas during the nineteen-eighties. They will facilitate the . The dramatic elements of "Minari" make it a powerful film. But the biggest problem for the couple, as well as their biggest source of contention, remains Davids health. In the Minari ending, Jacob and Monica are now working together to get the farm up and running. The kids go to church so they can call their mother. Everything about her howls of a shapeshifter, always out for her own ego-needs. You know your classroom and community norms best -- use your professional judgement to decide how you'll address these, if necessary. Create something -- a piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc. It feels so authentic and deeply personal, but also universal in a way that many can see themselves and their family in one or all of these characters. They fight. Jacob and Monica fight as the kids make paper airplanes with the message "Don't fight!" In an interview with Cinemablend, various cast and director Chung spoke about how minari is special because its a plant that thrives even in rough soil. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. Thinking back on the movie, is there one scene thats particularly memorable? However, water is also used in a positive way in Minari, but only the creek water. To access over 90 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here. By Richard Lawson February 22, 2021 Writer-director. Its a decision that didnt garner consensus easily. Shadow And Bone: 5 Things To Remember Before Season 2, ABC Execs Are Reportedly Removing Any Remaining Traces Of Amy Robach And TJ Holmes: 'The TV Business Is Rough', Turns Out, Thats An Actor Actually Playing Cocaine Bear, Amidst Alleged Drama With Selena Gomez, Fans Are Remembering Hailey Bieber's Past Obsession With Jelena, Jeremy Renner Nods At Fan-Favorite Marvel Line While Sharing His Recovery Journey After Snowplow Accident. By marketing the movie as a universal story, it loses part of what makes it so special. The film is named after the Korean word for a type of water dropwort that, as Soon-ja (Youn Yuh-jung) tells her grandson David Yi (Alan Kim), can be used as medicine or put in any food, be it a stew, kimchi, or soup. Students will be writing down notes about one character's motivations. (16:09-19:51), Clip #4: Jacob tells Anne that Koreans immigrate to the U.S. and miss Korean food. I' ve had the feeling of following the film Minari around for a few months now since the first time I saw the trailer last year. Just like each of the family's members has the "seeds" of an inner strength inside which grows to meet the tests they face, so, too, the minari plants, capable of growing without any aid at all. Create a "farm" that represents the things that motivate you to learn and grow as a person. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. But Jacob had his own share of disappointments with their lives in the Golden State. Minari won the 2021 Academy Award for best Actress in Supporting Role.Young David and his family move from California to Arkansas to settle in a mobile home on vacant land, which the father hopes to farm. My students and I wanted to be seen by others and to see ourselvesthe hope that the diversity of who we are would finally be reflected, but theres only so much room for Asian American representation in Hollywood. So anyone can pick and eat it. A24. "Minari" Discussion Group Friday July 16. Minari DISCUSSION TOPICS - Dreams, goals, life plans, death of a loved one, loneliness, disappointment, failure, follow-through, guilt, immigration, farming, Ronald Reagan, Korean War, losing faith in someone. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. PSA: Everything Everywhere Has 11 Oscar Noms! Starring: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Alan Kim, Yuh-jung Yoon, Will Patton. It's a wonderful image after the barn fire: The family hunkered together, sleeping on the floor of their mobile home. The time stamps can help you pick and choose your areas of focus. Minari Screenplay Book. 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. "Minari" 's style is a disheartening example of the gravitational pull that such conventions exert on the cinema at large. What do you think Jacob is feeling as he talks to David about the farm? Is Soonja what you expected? The movie, partially based on Chungs life, is set in the 1980s. It features a Korean family in rural Arkansas, and it's already received major recognition, including a Golden Globe Award. I might be inclined to look at Johnnie as a False Attractor. In their efforts to connect with the new neighbors, the Yis become a part of the local church and almost inevitably encounters casual racism, admittedly stemming from ignorance rather than malice. Later, he sprints after his grandmother to retrieve her after Soon-ja wanders off, post-barn fire. $60. For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here. ONLINE MEETING INFO: Join us for a discussion of Minari and Asian American representation! Jacob and Monica have long chased the American dream. For Part 4, to read the Themes discussion go here. I guessed Lee Isaac Chung's Minari would be different to me from just about any other film I'd seen from how, even those two minutes, evoked my own memories in a . Its a commentary on the future that the Yis might experience. Do you think this scene would look different today? Jacob (Steven Yeun) moves his family from a comfortable life in California to a small town in Arkansas. Beyond the snake, what does Soonja mean about things that hide? But underlying all of that, its less the immigration but the heart and sentiments, the relationships of the people doing that. If you had to take a side, whose side would you take? Soon-ja repeatedly tells her daughter to let David be a normal child. Promise. To download a PDF of the breakdown , go here. Based on Chung's own childhood, 'Minari' is about a Korean American family that moves to rural Arkansas to start a farm. She doesnt know it yet, but the fire has proven to be a blessing in disguise; it has saved her family from what seemed like an unavoidable dissolution. Jacob dreams of starting a farm and living off the profits of that business. Importantly, theyll return to this after the movie and reflect on it. 1 review Get A Copy Amazon Stores Kindle Edition Published March 26th 2021 More Details. It's the characters which drive the narrative and create strong moments of emotional resonance which make this story special. Dowsing is a very old practice considered to be pseudoscience by some and legitimate folk wisdom by others. So, after the family, except for Soon-ja, travels to Oklahoma City to meet a specialist there for Davids condition, Monica gives her husband an ultimatum to choose between his family and the farm. At the end of Minari, the family is struggling financially and now have no product because their barn burned down, but this fire has basically regenerated the family. A discussion guide is more than a list of questions. I hear the American dream thrown around a lot [about Minari], and that could mean all kinds of things that I was intentionally not getting into with the movie.. The Yi family moves from California to Arkansas because the father, Jacob (Steven Yeun), hopes to grow Korean vegetables on a small plot of land to sell to Korean grocers in Dallas. Digital Citizenship Resources for Families, Workshops for Middle and High School Families, CASEL 5 competencies for social and emotional learning, thinking routines from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero, selected scenes and discussion questions listed earlier in this article, Inside Out and SEL: A Movie Guide and Lesson Plan for Your Classroom, Whale Rider and SEL: A Movie Guide and Lesson Plan for Your Classroom, Teachers' Essential Guide to Showing Movies and Videos in the Classroom. But then her suprising comment to David about him being "strong." Anne's strategy when her parents are fighting is to send messages with paper airplanes, which is a creative way to find some control over a situation where she's powerless. In a sense, the marketing for the film makes sense. It could be a sculpture or diorama, a drawing, a poem that describes it, or a virtual one (using Minecraft, etc.). A boy and *his* medical issues. Minari is a leafy green vegetable ( sometimes called water celery or water dropwort) popular in Korean cooking. The director spoke with contributor Arun Venugopal about the memories that . Recognize situational demands and opportunities. Underdog story of trying to make a dream come true. (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. While Jacob, Monica, and the children are heading to the car, Jacob gleefully talks about how this deal came at the best time. Specifically: "It grows anywhere." Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The Minari ending shows the Yi family getting good news, first with Davids heart murmur, and then with Jacob finding a grocer, but the second good news is immediately followed by bad news. (1:12:32-1:18:35), Clip #13: Monica tells Anne she's so grown up, taking care of everyone. This is *exactly* the kind of movie I like. Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones. Create something that gives this person a proper shout out. After all is said and done, the fact Monica helps Jacob save the harvested crops from the burning barn is a sign she is still committed to the relationship. Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. It describes a romanticized idea of living self-sustaining, tending the garden, caring for farm animals as well as baking and handcrafts. (35:37-37:58), Clip #8: The family goes to church, and people there react in various ways to them being Korean. It will be a casually facilitated conversation to those who wish to share their experiences from themes emerged from the film and for those who wish to learn more about AAPI heritage. Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Minari.. Minari is a tender drama that follows the Korean-American Yi family as they try to pursue a slice of the American Dream. Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. Understand the influences of organizations and systems of behavior. Minari Endoh 4.27 179 ratings2 reviews Rahzel, Alzeid, and Baroqueheat continue traveling together to look for the killer of Alzeid's father. It could be something that only happened inside of yourself. In Jacobs mind, he has invested too much and sacrificed too much to back out now from this specific trajectory of his life, no matter the consequences. When they're by the creek, Soonja says, "It's better to see [the snake] than have it hide. David wakes up thinking he's wet the bed, but it was Soonja this time because she's had a stroke. Step 2: Insert your questions for each topic. Tricksters can also act as allies and that is an example of such a moment. He has never heard anyone say that about him and he welcomes the praise. EVENT DATES & TIMES: Virtual screening: Saturday, May 15 between 6-10pm PST Post-movie discussion: Wednesday, May 19 from 4-5pm PST REGISTRATION Tickets are SOLD OUT. It grows anywhere, like weeds. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Soon-ja also serves as a link between Monica and Korea by bringing traditional medicines (for David) and native spices. Why? Judging from the script, I'd say David is the Protagonist as the story is told through his perspective. Step 6: Write a brief introduction script for the interview to give your participants . Why do you think big events -- like birth, illness, death, a pandemic, etc. If you only have a single class period, showing just a few key clips below might be perfect. You can also use these in conjunction with the longer lesson plan below. But Minari, a film made by an American, produced by an American company, and cast with American actors, was still placed in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Golden Globes. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, success remains elusive because of the things over which we dont have any control. Five acres is a hobby, he tells his reluctant and skeptical wife, explaining why he has acquired 50 acres of the best dirt in America. As I watched, I realized how exhilarating it was to see a movie with a majority Asian/American cast. (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. Use this lesson to help students consider how they can: If you only want to show brief parts of the film and discuss them with students, use these helpful clips to get you started. Develop interests and a sense of purpose. Minari (2020) PG-13 | Drama Watch options Official Trailer A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Grandma drinks it, he's punished, and Grandma defends him. Step 4: Write questions that invite reflection. Why? Depending on what's best for your class, have students work in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. -- can shift one's priorities? Why does the movie end with Jacob commenting on the minari, and why is it the title of the movie? What unies the narrative? Its a surreal moment of contradictory emotions for Jacob. What does Jacob's decision to grow Korean vegetables in Arkansas say about culture and identity? Requests are shot down every time, that is exactly what she does when is! Of their mobile home the garden, caring for farm animals as well as baking and handcrafts to with... For Jacob grandma emphasizes how strong he is scene showing she was alive specific instrument behavior... Exactly * the kind of movie I like MEETING INFO: Join US for a guide! Starting a farm of their mobile home of Jacob and David visit the creek, says. 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Emphasizes how strong he is and living off the profits of that, its less immigration! Characters which drive the narrative and create strong moments of emotional resonance which make this story.! You can also act as allies and that is minari discussion guide what she does when she is alone with daughter...