"Minari": what attracts the film about the Korean family, which received six Oscar nominations

On April 8, the film "Minari" directed by Lee Isaac Chun will be released on Russian screens. Already during the premiere at the Sundance festival, this film delighted the audience, taking the Grand Prix of the professional jury and the Audience Award. With the Golden Globe, the authors had a discrepancy: the work was only in the category of "Best Foreign Language Film", since the characters speak Korean. Although "Minari" was filmed entirely by an American team.

But with the "Oscar" the picture has more rosy prospects: it received six nominations at once, including "Best Film" and "Best Director". The "Land of Nomads" is still considered the favorite of the award, but last year's example of "Parasites" leaves a lot of hope for the authors of "Minari".

Moreover, the film really turned out to be very touching and absolutely universal. Although it is dedicated to the family of Korean expatriates, the story will seem close and understandable to any viewer. "Minari" tells about the search for their place in life and the importance of family ties.

Chasing a dream

Emigrant from Korea Jacob (Stephen Yang) moves from California to provincial Arkansas with his wife, daughter and son. The family lives in a trailer, the adults have to work in the poultry farm, sorting the chickens. But Jacob plans to fulfill his dream - to become a real American farmer. He buys a piece of land and tries to grow Korean food on it.

But the work is going on with great difficulty, there is not enough energy and money. And also the youngest son David has heart problems. Then Jacob transports from Korea his mother-in-law Sunju (Yun Yeo-jung) - a very shocking old lady who does not know how to bake pies, but loves to watch boxing and swears. Young David is afraid of a relative. However, they all have to go through many adversities on the way to the typical American dream.

Minari only at first glance may seem like a typical tribute to the social agenda: a story about migrants who survive in America. Very quickly, the picture makes it clear that the difference between cultures and races here is only an element of the plot, but by no means its main component.

This story is dedicated to those who are trying to break into an unfamiliar place and dream of achieving more. Because of this, "Minari" seems like a completely universal parable: the United States can be replaced by any other country, and Koreans - by representatives of another nationality. However, the idea will be the same.

Therefore, it is easy to find familiar features in the main characters of the picture. Moreover, the authors of the film, with an obvious love for the characters, do not try to idealize them and turn them into a role model. Jacob often does rash things. Moreover, he does not even consult with his wife, making decisions for the whole family. This leads to inevitable conflicts.

And in general, the plot is more ironic over typical stories about the American Dream than it follows. The film seems to speak about the difficulties of assimilation, but often turns everything inside out. Yes, Koreans here consume everything American - for example, soda, which is literally extolled. They also go to the local church for want of another. But at the same time, it is not Jacob who is portrayed as a funny and superstitious worker, but his assistant - American Paul (Will Patton), who regularly carries a huge cross on himself.

All this leads to one important, a little sad, but very vital morality. A person can be as kind and charming as he wants, but this will not insure him from the blows of fate.

At the same time, "Minari" diligently refuses to lecture the viewer. The film does not advise imitating the characters, but it does not dissuade from such adventures. No wonder the author made baby David the main character of the story. He only observes what is happening, passing everything through the prism of his child's perception.

Surprisingly, but it is this hero, powerless to have any influence on what is happening, and even with health problems, inspires optimism.

Family history

Director Lee Isaac Chun, who wrote the script for the film himself, does not hide that the plot is partially based on his own biography. This, by the way, makes the picture akin to the favorite of the 2019 Oscars - Roma by Alfonso Cuarona. But he included in his plot only the atmosphere and places. The creator of "Minari" goes further - the director himself is clearly guessed in the image of David.

That is why, despite all the shortcomings, the images of the heroes are spelled out with such warmth. The scene when the children, watching the swearing parents, begin to throw paper airplanes at them asking for reconciliation, will not touch only those who have absolutely no empathy for the on-screen characters.

And David's communication with his grandmother is one of the most charming lines of the picture. Anyone who remembers from childhood the first meetings with strange distant relatives will see many familiar moments. Moreover, this part is given both the brightest jokes (sometimes excessively rude, but very funny), and the most touching scenes. Yoon Yeo-jung is amazing in this controversial image.

It is worth admitting that there was not enough time in the film for everyone. Jacob's wife Monica (Han Ye-ri) looks like a simple character-function. At first, she faithfully follows her husband, then, as expected, she gets tired of his problems. This heroine has almost no “I” of her own. The situation is even worse with David's older sister Ann. She just appears occasionally to help the rest of the heroes a little.

Still, the family in Minari looks like a living organism, and, in fact, the entire film is dedicated to the importance of those who are nearby. It shows through in the relationship between Jacob and Monica, and in the behavior of the children, and most of all in the incomparable communication between David and his grandmother.

Conflicts can arise in the family, sometimes it almost falls apart. But for some reason, there is no doubt for a second that these people love each other. And, perhaps, the main benefit of "Minari" is that after watching this picture, you will want to call your parents again or say words of support to your loved one.

Simplicity and metaphor

Lee Isaac Chun's film is by no means too pretentious and unusual in terms of visual presentation and subtext of the story. The director invited cameraman Lachlan Milne, who became famous after the series "Stranger Things".

Minari is full of beautiful handheld shots of nature, contrasting with the pale and static footage of the family's everyday life. Still, filming does not draw attention to itself, only helping to feel the experiences of the characters.

However, there are many interesting metaphors hidden in the apparent simplicity. Moreover, the director does not serve them too deliberately. Only the minari plant itself (it is omezhnik) is striking. Planted by a grandmother, it still springs up even on the most unfavorable soil, which creates a feeling of a happy end with the general gloom of history.

But if you look closely, there are many other and more important allegorical hints in the film. For example, water as the main means of survival runs through the whole plot as a leitmotif. This also applies to a drying well for watering plants, and a collision with a fire, and the hope that the spring will heal little David, and even too literal understanding of the name of Mountain Dew lemonade.

And then it is better to allow the viewer to search and interpret individual scenes on their own. As stated above, Jacob and Monica work sorting chickens in the poultry farm. In this case, males are "disposed of" because they are of less benefit. Is this not an allusion to people who could not "break through"? And the healing hole in David's heart also clearly speaks volumes.

All this turns the picture from an analogue of "Boyhood" by Richard Linklater almost into "The Tree of Life" by Malik. The life of one child here is not only a study of his family - it is an analogue of the whole world. Simpler and more straightforward than that of the famous filmmakers-philosophers, but very emotional.

Minari is a completely sincere story, devoid of any manipulation and flirting with current topics. This film is not so much about survival as about intimacy, mutual assistance and knowledge of the world. That is why the heroes seem so touching and real, and I want to sincerely worry about them.

More importantly, stories like these are never outdated. The plot of "Minari" would have seemed understandable 20 years ago, it is catchy today and will probably remain the same emotional years later.