Why ‘Minari’ Is A Must Watch

Minari is a semi-autobiographical film based on the life of director Lee Issac Chung. The 2020 American drama drew a lot of attention, so much so that it was nominated for a slew of awards at the 93rd Academy Awards, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Youn Yuh-Jung. It received SAG Award nominations and the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.

 Minari follows a Korean-American family as they relocate to an Arkansas farm in quest of their own version of the American Dream. With the advent of their sly, foul-mouthed, but very loving grandmother, the family’s house undergoes a total transformation. Minari demonstrates the undeniable tenacity of family and what truly forms a home among the instability and trials of this new existence in the rough Ozarks.

 The inner struggles of all of the main characters, particularly Jacob’s, will be visible to the audience. Jacob is so focused on realizing his American goal of owning a farm that he begins to lose sight of his family. They move to a mobile home on recently purchased land, but Monica (Han Ye-Ri), his wife, is concerned that they will be too distant from a hospital if their son David’s heart condition worsens.

 Soonja’s story in Minari was so highly received that actor Youn Yuh-Jung was awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first Korean actor to do so. She has a pivotal role in the family’s storyline, which has fans in tears. She isn’t your average grandma, by Korean or American standards, because she isn’t stereotypically grandmotherly and likes to swear, drink Mountain Dew, and watch wrestling.

 For many viewers, the relationship between David and Soonja may be the highlight of the show. David and his grandmother have a squabble because David does not perceive her as the type of grandma he is familiar with, namely the stereotypical American-born grandmother. David frequently reminds her that she isn’t a true grandma since she dresses like a man, swears, and doesn’t bake cookies. He even comments that she smells like Korea, but as David grows to love her, they strike a middle ground.

 Minari is currently available to rent from a number of streaming services, including Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube.

Watch the trailer here: