For an abstract concept that’s existed for decades, there are a lot of films about the American Dream. It has a lot of interpretations and ideas about what exactly it means, and you could go on for days discussing them all. Yet, you probably won’t find one as expertly crafted and wonderful as “Minari.”
Written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung (“Munyurangabo,” “Abigail Harm”) the film is a semi-autobiographical tale loosely based on Chung’s childhood. It follows the Yi family as they move to a farm in Arkansas the father, Jacob, has purchased. Jacob, played by Steven Yeun (“Sorry to Bother You,” “The Walking Dead”), is a headstrong patriarch, who clearly wants to provide for his family and also show them that he can be a success and provide an “American” life for them. Yeun performance is one of both love and anger. As much as frustration flows through him, you empathize with each and every moment. The same goes for his wife, Monica, played by Han Ye-ri (“Worst Woman,” “A Quiet Dream”). You equally empathize with the unfortunate situation she’s been placed in. She wants to stay and live with her husband, but she also wants to move their children to a better home away from the countryside and somewhere more stable.
Eventually Monica’s mother comes to live with them, Soon-ja, played by Youn Yuh-jung (“The Housemaid,” “The Bacchus Lady”). She’s yet another in a line of sassy Korean grandmothers that have popped up in recent years, and she’s just as charming as any of them. She provides most of the film’s comedic relief, and yet also maintains a strong maternal figure for the kids when the parents are working, keeping a tight balance between silliness and sternness.
This maternal instinct is also shown in Anne, the daughter, played by Noel Kate Cho in her film debut. She isn’t in the film much but has the exact level of comfort and frustration you’d expect from an older sibling. There’s also Will Patton (“Halloween (2018),” “Falling Skies”) as Paul, a farmhand who comes to work for and help Jacob, and while he might come off as a little annoying, he grows on the viewer as he grows on the Yis.
Despite a talented ensemble cast, the film belongs to newcomer 7-year-old Alan Kim. In his film debut, he makes a huge impression as David, the youngest member of the Yi family. His childlike attitude and whimsy make for some amusing moments where you roll your eyes and scold him for his actions, but he also exhibits a large amount of maturity given the events of the film. He’s an absolute delight, tossing out any and all stereotypes about child actors and delivering what might be one of the year’s best performances.
Its easy to feel apprehensive about Minari. From the trailer and studio, A24, its easy to imagine this is yet another independent film that crawls by with little plot, string music, and a slow pace. Yet, that’s quite the opposite and its thanks to Chung’s script and the overall atmosphere of the film.
The dialogue and family atmosphere feel extremely natural and its easy to see elements of every person’s family within the Yi’s. It because of this easy to see and understand family nature that the film never feels too slow or bogged down. It all comes back to this feeling of familial warmth that exists at the center of it all. Everyone clearly wants what’s best for each other and the family as a whole, even as it might get in the way of their own desires. This easy-to-understand central idea makes the film far more digestible for viewers, bucking the trend of indie films being more overly dramatic and slowly paced.
It truly does just exude a kind of warmth that’s hard to match. So often even the quietest or simplest of moments wrap you up like a thick comforter and let you just live in the moment with these characters. It turns the entire film into a genuine crowd-pleasing tearjerker.
“Minari” is an easy to recommend family drama based on the strength of its cast alone. Yet, it’s the relationship of the family, the American Dream at its center, and the warmth it exudes that takes it above being just an easy recommendation. This is a delightful and wonderful film that virtually anyone can watch, enjoy, and walk away with something learned. 5/5
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