CULTURE - Minari is a must-watch film
Jonathan Turner
Minari is the Korean name for a vegetable, which is used for a variety of dishes and purposes across several countries, particularly in East Asia. Similarly to the titular plant, this American-Korean film has found itself being defined under different categories. This has caused some debate over whether it is an international film despite being a quintessentially American story and having an American production team. This includes a controversial decision to place it in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Golden Globes The herb is also however known for its tenacity, serving as a metaphor for the family depicted in this film persevering towards the American dream and a new start.
Produced by the independent company A24 pictures (Lady Bird, Moonlight, The Lighthouse), this semi-autobiographical film by Lee Isaac Chung follows the Yi family as they attempt to gain an independent lifestyle.
It begins with them having moved from California to Arkansas, starting a farm growing Korean vegetables. Jacob (Stephen Yuen) believes that, with enough hard work, this project can be successful while his wife Monica (Han Ye-ri) is concerned at the risk it will involve. This causes a significant strain on the family relationship, often portrayed from the perspective of the children, Anne (Noel Cho) and David (Alan S. Kim).
While the farm backdrop provides roots for the plot to grow, it is the characterisation that is the main strength of this film. Monica is excellently presented as wanting what is best for her children while being filled with self-doubt. This is evident when she is seen practicing her job of sorting chicks at home, worried she is not as fast as the others. Jacob on the other hand is fiercely determined that their project will succeed, resulting in several tense arguments.
It is Youn Yuh-jung’s portrayal of Monica’s mother and her developing relationship with David that provides many of the standout moments of the film. She arrives from Korea to help look after the children, who are initially apprehensive of the woman who “smells like Korea” and doesn’t bake cookies like a ‘real’ grandmother. Both humourous and sentimental without tipping into melodrama, Yuh-jung’s acting in this film has been recently awarded a Bafta and the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Famous in South Korea for her career spanning five decades, this experience is on display throughout Minari, indicating that these accolades are well deserved.
The astounding cinematography delivered by Lachlan Milne (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Stranger Things) also warrants mention. The lighting and camerawork accentuate the 1980s setting, bringing a nostalgic feel to the visuals. Many of the interior shots of the home are reminiscent of a Polaroid picture. He has stated that natural lighting was predominantly used to focus on the theme of family and this has provided a greater focus on the portrayal of the characters. The soundtrack composed by Emile Mosseri (The Last Black Man in San Francisco) adds to this, lending the film a warm and dreamlike feel and creeping up in many of the emotional scenes.
Minari, despite not winning the Oscar for Best Picture (this went to Nomadland), draws greater attention to the fact that there are a large number of cultures and experiences that deserve to have their stories told within American cinema. This excellent film provides a gripping, emotional story and plenty of humour as well. It is currently available to rent for home viewing on QFT player until 2 October 2021 and will be available in various cinemas upon their reopening later in May.
Jonathan Turner is a Pharmacy student at QUB and part of the School’s Mental Health and Wellbeing team.