Mainstream media depictions of minority Americans today focus heavily on portraying them as victims of an oppressive and racist system that hinders them from achieving success. Minari, however, is refreshing in that it portrays its Korean American subjects not as victims, but as strivers who sacrifice and work hard to achieve the American Dream. Although the film does not shy away from themes of racial insensitivity and discrimination, they are not the core elements. Minari prioritizes the values of family, faith, and personal responsibility in the pursuit of happiness .
Minari is the semi-autobiographical story of Korean American director Lee Issac Chung’s childhood. The film takes place in rural Arkansas during the 1980’s, where Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun) and his family have moved for better prospects, much to the behest of Jacob’s wife Monica ( Han Ye-ri). While Jacob and wife work as menial chicken sorters by day, after work Jacob pursues his dream of building a big garden, which he hopes can bring his family self sufficiency by growing and selling Korean vegetables. In addition to the two Yi children, David and Anne, the cast of characters also includes the quirky but diligent Paul (Will Patton), who Jacob hires to help manage his garden, and Monica’s mother (Youn Yuh-jung), who arrives from South Korea to help take care of the children.
Rather than focusing on any one member of the Yi family, the film juggles between the different interfamilial relationships. Examples include the humorous relationship between David and his grandmother, who David resents for not fitting the mold of a “normal” American grandmother, and the contentious relationship between Monica and Jacob, who Moncia accuses of putting his garden over their family’s well being. This exploration of the family builds a deep feeling of connection between the viewer and the Yi family, and invests viewers in the fortunes and misfortunes that they face in pursuit of the American Dream. Anyone who has had family members who worked and sacrificed to build a better life for their children can relate to the film’s narrative and message.
As a Korean American myself, I also appreciated the highly accurate use of language and attitudes portrayed in the film that might be seen in a typical Korean American family. The heightened sense of realism gives viewers an accurate window into Korean American life.
In a time when the conversation regarding minority Americans has polarized to extremes, especially in the light of the rise of Asian American hate crimes, Minari is an important film that has much to add to the conservation. Its nuanced and thoughtful take on Asian American themes makes it an essential viewing. Minari is currently in limited release in theaters and also available on streaming services.