‘Minari’ is directed by Lee Isaac Chung and stars Steven Yeun, Han Yeri, Noel Cho, And Alan S. Kim as a family who has moved from California to a rural town in Arkansas. The father and mother work hard at a chicken sex separation business, counting and checking hundreds of chickens, while the father begins to farm and start his own business. This broken family will have to learn what the American dream is, in this drama that I loved watching and will be a big showing this year.
A lot of people wool it have been drawing comparisons between this and 2019’s ‘The Farewell’ in its story. While I can I see some of the points made this stands Aline completely from that and honestly has too good a story to just be thrown into a comparison contest. I loved the story this film gave of hard work and determination. It holds to very Americans ideals that are told in the immigrants perspective. How much you’d be willing to sacrifice for a better life, and what the cost is in relationship to what you have to give up for a better life.
The acting across the board is incredible, standouts being Stephen Yuen and Han Yeri as the mother and father. They have a heartbreaking story that tests their love and marriage and both actors do an excellent job of portraying that. After the family moved to Arkansas, Han Yeri’s characters Grandma shows up (played by Yuh Jung Youn. She’s an unconventional Grandmother and this upsets the grandson played by Alan S. Kim. Their back and forth brings most of the humor and the funny moments are surprising and hilarious.
The directing is great, it has a very powerful and unique message that everyone can relate to. It’s got humor, heart, and that quality in award winning films that will push this film throughout the festival circuit as a must see.
