(1:12:32-1:18:35), Clip #13: Monica tells Anne she's so grown up, taking care of everyone. Why? At the heart of the movie are questions about the choices we make for our familiesand the priorities behind them. "Minari" is directed by Lee Isaac Chung. 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. Theres so much more to it than that. Step 5: Test your discussion guide with a colleague. Show a few specific clips along with discussion questions. If you decide to help students delve deeper into the topic, you might show the entire film and have more extensive discussions over multiple days. This is *exactly* the kind of movie I like. What unies the narrative? They'll also considerhow this might play out for others who aren't like themselves. 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. Jacob sees the minari and says, It's growing well on its own." Anticipate and evaluate the consequences of theiractions. Our daily schedule Perhaps this is one of those situations where we think of them as Attractors - obviously David has an emotional connection to Jacob and Monica - and in those moments where the parents are arguing or angry with him or working angles with him to get him to see either of them as his favorite - as "mask" moments. David leads dad down to the creek. As the constant bouts of the spousal arguments reveal, the Yis dont have much to show for their decade-long hard work, doing a job that they dont necessarily like. Help students find the strength and confidence to overcome obstacles in their own lives. Christine is also a writer, primarily of fiction and essays, and loves to read all manner of books. That makes it seem like that dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know thats just not true. Because entire countries can't have a smell, what is it David is really reacting to? He further explained in an interview on NPRs Reset how minari really was something that his grandmother grew, and some of his memories with her tie back to them. Once the movie is over, you can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. A discussion guide is more than a list of questions. If that makes sense. But I kept thinking about how Minari is being marketed and wondered, Is this really a story about the American dream? Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Plot Summary submission guide. And it ultimately improves things for David, whom his parents have always kept under constant supervision because of his heart condition. What are some examples to support your idea? 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. He also explained that minari has a purifying effect and clears poor soil and water. First, we see it with the tornado warning, then we see it with Jacobs crops not being able to get enough water, and even the bath scene between Monica and Jacob has a negative undertone because its when Jacob gives her permission to leave him if he cant make the farm work. We see this theme of strength played out with David's character. That seems to be an apt line about David's family, how despite the hardships they face, they prove to be able to "grow anywhere," even on their struggling Arkansas farm. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? Jacob then gets more good news when the grocery store owner agrees to have Jacob be his produce supplier. Soon-ja, who has recently suffered a stroke, accidentally sets fire to the barn where Jacob keeps his produce. A Korean family starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas. Jacob relies on knowledge and planning, so dismisses the dowser. Minari ( Korean: [minai], transl. Edit Details To ask other readers questions about Minari please sign up . David aspires to be one of the gang and hanging with Johnnie provides that opportunity, however, Johnnie has a wild streak and that stands in opposition to the steadfastness required of the family to survive on the farm. This movie is set in the '80s. Support students' learning, and find the best video streaming sites for schools and classrooms. (27:40-31:25), Clip #6: Grandma (Soonja) makes David a special tea, and he complains about a "Korea" smell in his room. It could be something that only happened inside of yourself. Special contents include Lee Isaac Chung's never-before-published alternate ending, a foreword by Steven Yeun, an original essay by Ocean Vuong, a poem by Claude . Students will also reflect on howtheir ownsense of identity has developed within their family and community-- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. Beyond the tornado, why is she angry? Jacob refuses to hire a water dowser (people who seemingly find underground water through divination using a forked twig). The film willresonate particularly with students whose households have deep connections to countries other than the one in which they reside. Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? As explained in the movie and by the cast, --Chung called it a weed in an interview with The Wrap, but Yuh-jung corrected him and said that its a vegetable-- minari is a versatile plant used in Korean households in various ways. Chung wanted to make a particular story, not a universal story. Jacob hopes to become a successful farmer, hoping to produce Korean vegetables for the Southern states' growing Korean population. Help students reflect on the social and emotional aspects of the movie and consider how their own emotions work. "water celery") is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Here's a rundown of all those rich details that made the movie so moving: And by the way, it's possible that a few or a lot of these cultural elements aren't exclusive to the Korean community. The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. -- can shift one's priorities? (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. She lets him know that she can no longer be with him. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). In a country where Latinx and Asian immigrants are reviled, its not surprising that production companies like A24 want to normalize the stories of immigration, focus on the American dream, and show that those of us with immigrant backgrounds are Americans. The violence on the border and the recent spike in hate crimes against Asians Americans are constant reminders that white supremacist narratives of immigrant invasion are alive and thriving. He knows how complex the idea of the American dream is and that for many, its a fiction. After seeing that Soonja is all right, Monica rushes in as well. In a recent roundtable of Asian American directors in the .css-tjvzc4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;border-bottom:thin solid #6F6F6F;}.css-tjvzc4:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}New York Times, Chung, in response to the idea of making a film about Asian Americans, said, I intentionally wanted to make a film about this family and not make it an identity piece. You can also use these in conjunction with the longer lesson plan below. Apr 22, 2021, 7:22 AM. (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. (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! Again, demonstrating his growing strength. Why does Anne get so angry when Jacob says they worried for nothing? Jacob, Monica, David (Alan S. Kim), and Anne (Noel Cho) receive good news when a cardiologist lets the family know that Davids heart murmur will likely heal on its own. Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. Minari is wonderful, wonderful!". Importantly, theyll return to this after the movie and reflect on it. This is demonstrated in his frustrated ramblings to Paul when the prospective buyer in Dallas cancels their order for Jacobs produce. Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones. Richard Brody began writing for The New Yorker in 1999. Be the first to contribute! Can you think of a situation where you make your voice heard even though you can't really change what's happening? 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. For Part 1, to read the Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here. 119. Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. I might be inclined to look at Johnnie as a False Attractor. I love me a good line and this one had some really touching one. Why or why not? Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. Minari Is a Beautiful Portrait of a Family in Flux Lee Isaac Chung's bittersweet award-winning film is one of the highlights of the season. However, water is also used in a positive way in Minari, but only the creek water. July 20, 2022 By Berkeley Food Institute. 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 . In the meantime, I am sharing some of the best and most heartwarming quotes from the film. PSA: Everything Everywhere Has 11 Oscar Noms! 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