Minari Parent Guide

It is the American dream that inspires Jacob and Monica Yi (Steven Yeun and Yeri Han) to emigrate from Korea to California. Two children and ten years of menial labor later, it is that same desire that drives Jacob to uproot his family again, this time transplanting them to a piece of Arkansas farmland that he hopes will prove fertile ground for both a vegetable garden and a better, more abundant life.

Although she follows her husband’s lead, Monica worries their situation is only moving from bad to worse. In the Golden State the family supported itself in the agricultural industry by inspecting young chickens to determine their gender. Employment at a similar company in Arkansas means they are doing the same work, just in a different location. While housing was modest in California, it’s now a mobile home parked in an isolated patch of weeds. With no family or friends in the sparsely populated vicinity, there is no one to provide care for the children. Neither are there any mentors for the aspiring famers trying to eke out an existence, unless you count the impoverished, strangely religious, Korean war veteran (Will Patton) who asks Jacob for a job.

From the perspective of the kids, Anne and David (Noel Cho and Alan S. Kim), the whole thing is a curious adventure – with a tendency to disappoint. This is especially true when their parents arrange to bring Monica’s mother from Korea to live with them and be their babysitter. Unlike any stereotypes popularized in American or Asian cultures, this unconventional Grandma (Youn Yuh-jung) swears, plays cards aggressively and is addicted to wrestling shows on TV. She’s also a formidable match for David’s sassy and mischievous ways.

Watching this struggling family is akin to waiting for a crop to grow. The faith of the spring planting is challenged by the hot summer sun, which casts doubts on the eventual harvest. Like Jacob, you hope for success. Yet like Monica, you fear failure as you observe the heat of financial stresses, marital conflicts and life problems threatening to dry up their dreams.

Despite its slow pace, non-western story style and use of frequent Korean dialogue with English subtitles, this amazing film is sure to produce a bounty of empathy. And not just for its portrayal of the immigrant experience. Many of the trials the Yi’s face are universal, such as overcoming pride while maintaining confidence, knowing when and when not to take risks, and learning what it really means to committ to providing for one’s family. Named after the hardy Asian herb Minari, this semi-autobiographical script (written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung), explores the kind of rocky soil that tests human tenacity, and demands it either shrink or flourish.

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Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.