minari discussion guide

I' ve had the feeling of following the film Minari around for a few months now since the first time I saw the trailer last year. Older Post Even after her mothers arrival, Monica continues to struggle with her new circumstances. The kids go to church so they can call their mother. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Step 3: Write instructions for any user activities. Just like each of the family's members has the "seeds" of an inner strength inside which grows to meet the tests they face, so, too, the minari plants, capable of growing without any aid at all. Can you identify a choice the filmmakers made about music, camera angles, etc. Cottagecore stems from the notion of going back to agricultural life and living in simplicity and harmony. At the beginning of the film, the family was completely against this notion, with Anne commenting that Jacob snores. Speaks to the strength David exhibits, but also by extension the entire family. (1:02:06-1:03:57), Clip #11: After David gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is. (1:38:26-end). It describes a romanticized idea of living self-sustaining, tending the garden, caring for farm animals as well as baking and handcrafts. So we have to push back on the idea that it is a universal immigrant story about the American dream. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. She brings with her the old countrys values and beliefs and rejects the perpetual fear that her daughter and Jacob feel about Davids health. At 49:44, there's a scene where David tricks Soonja (Grandma) into drinking his urine. Jacob (Steven Yeun) moves his family from a comfortable life in California to a small town in Arkansas. To show you how a discussion guide is constructed, i've broken down a two hour interview into a simple guide. Why does Anne get so angry when Jacob says they worried for nothing? Does she find it at church? Based on Chung's own childhood, 'Minari' is about a Korean American family that moves to rural Arkansas to start a farm. What scene, and why does it stick out in your mind? The time stamps can help you pick and choose your areas of focus. And if you want to stretch it further, the pee in grandmas cup scene and then her peeing on herself after her stroke all tie into water being a source of pain and disaster for the family. Can you think of a situation where you make your voice heard even though you can't really change what's happening? Soon-ja, who has recently suffered a stroke, accidentally sets fire to the barn where Jacob keeps his produce. There's a ton of SEL content to work with here. If you haven't seen Minari yet, queue this one for your next movie night. But Minari, a film made by an American, produced by an American company, and cast with American actors, was still placed in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Golden Globes. Her oncoming dementia plays into that. Reflect on their own role in promoting personal, family, and community well-being. Why? And if you're looking to check it out, find out how to watch Minari streaming. Integrate their personal and social identities. But when the fire turns into a raging inferno, they must decide what is most important to them and leave the rest. That is, their Attractor function doesn't change overall, rather they don a mentor, nemesis, or trickster mask from time to time to fit where they are emotionally and support their goal at that time. In a sense, the marketing for the film makes sense. That seems to be an apt line about David's family, how despite the hardships they face, they prove to be able to "grow anywhere," even on their struggling Arkansas farm. Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Minari.. Minari is a tender drama that follows the Korean-American Yi family as they try to pursue a slice of the American Dream. On the church bus, kids joke about Paul not having water. This guide offers two different approaches to teaching Minari: Feel free to use either approach, or even combine the two into one lesson (or an entire unit) based around the movie. (7:56-9:40), Clip #2: A thunderstorm is in full swing, and everyone's scared. Specifically how our choices are influenced by our character traits, values, and virtues. Around 1:19:00, some kids use chewing tobacco. This event has passed. Theyll build something better from the ashes of their original missteps. By Richard Lawson February 22, 2021 Writer-director. What do you think Jacob is feeling as he talks to David about the farm? She tries to convince Jacob to move the family closer to the Korean community in the nearby town. For example, the clash between David and his grandmotherDavid has to share his room with her and thinks she smells like Korea, and she entertains him by teaching him card games that have Korean swear wordsis a diverse representation of Asian/American identities: The grandmother is funny and quirky. But thats too much for one film, one director, and one story to bear. Topics: Ultimately, those distinctions don't really matter, what does is tracking the arc of key characters. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Though she's not avery dynamiccharacter, she plays a huge role in holding everything together. DISCUSSION GUIDES 1. MINARI tells the story of the Yi family through the eyes of David (Alan S. Kim), a young boy whose family has uprooted from California to Arkansas to chase his father Jacob's (Steven Yeun) dream of owning a farm.David and his older sister, Anne (Noel Cho), try to find their place in Arkansas, while their mother, Monica (Yeri Han), wishes she was still in California, where she felt comfortable . People often fall into roles in families: The peacemaker, the comedian, the caretaker, etc. Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. Lee Isaac Chung's depiction of the often lonely path Korean immigrants must tread towards their American dream has won its stars Yuh-jung Youn and Steve Yeun Oscar nominations Written by: Lee Isaac Chung. Review: After an exhausting 2020, the gentle 'Minari' is the movie we need right now. This movie is set in the '80s. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Read. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Why? 0. (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. Minari is a leafy green vegetable ( sometimes called water celery or water dropwort) popular in Korean cooking. When the Yis return, Jacob rushes into the fire to salvage whatever he can, and Monica soon follows. Minh Ngo (he/they) is a filmmaker, photographer, writer, and student at New York University. Jacob and Monica have long chased the American dream. For Jacob, the farm is his direct path to achieve the proverbial American dream, and he is industrious enough to make an earnest attempt at it. Be the first to contribute! (35:37-37:58), Clip #8: The family goes to church, and people there react in various ways to them being Korean. (1:12:32-1:18:35), Clip #13: Monica tells Anne she's so grown up, taking care of everyone. NY 10036. Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. Have students complete the After You Watch Activities. You can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. We also see Monica and Paul (Will Patton) with Jacob as he pays to find a new water well, something he was against in the beginning. In her last scene, Soon-ja sits wide awake, watching the Yis sleep on the floor together. What do you think about the tension between Jacob's approach and the dowser's approach? $60. Minari, which won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, follows the story of an immigrant Korean family who move from California to Arkansas in hopes for a better life and land to call their own.Starring The Walking Dead's Steven Yeun alongside a . Plot Concept : After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another warrior emerges in the Star Wars universe. We also see the Yi family sleeping on the floor together. Why does Jacob mention that he's the eldest son? Minari Screenplay Book. The farm endures financial issues from the beginning. Minari DISCUSSION TOPICS - Dreams, goals, life plans, death of a loved one, loneliness, disappointment, failure, follow-through, guilt, immigration, farming, Ronald Reagan, Korean War, losing faith in someone. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. She embraces her new life with a certain childlike wonder that is absent even in Jacob. I do feel confident in this: Soonja is *definitely* a Trickster. It's a specific instrument. Is she what David expected? Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. You can also use these in conjunction with the longer lesson plan below. A lot of the students said they couldnt relate to the film because of the wealth, the backdrop of Singapore, the fact that Crazy Rich Asians is a heterosexual Chinese American tale. What are our options when our priorities are fundamentally different from a loved one's? Discussion Guide 5.12.2016 Pie Digital | Fast Insight 1 Page 2 of 4 Task 1: General exploration, Dashboard Imagine that you recently installed an app on your phone that was going to help you with your home network. Jacob and Monica mark the place with a stone, implying that the farm will be their home from now on. That makes it seem like that dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know thats just not true. Both individually and collectively, they find friends as well, most prominent of whom is the town eccentric Paul (Will Patton), who is the very embodiment of the profound faith that resonates in that part of the country. He saw this as an overall analogy for the immigrant experience, which he shared in a Filmmaker Magazine interview: Later, you know, I started to see a lot of those connectionsto immigration itself, and to the stories of the people who came over and planted themselves in the worst soils and started to thrive and grow. published 21 March 2021 Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a semi-autobiographical story about the Yi family. Christine is also a writer, primarily of fiction and essays, and loves to read all manner of books. His wife struggling to understand that dream. Why does the movie end with Jacob commenting on the minari, and why is it the title of the movie? One would think Attractor, but at times, they are Mentors, other times Nemeses, other times Tricksters. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. At 49:44, there's a scene where David tricks Soonja (Grandma) into drinking his urine. Step 5: Test your discussion guide with a colleague. There was a problem. Minor spoilers ahead for Minari.. Anne is a quiet force in the movie, taking care of David and trying to make things easier for her parents. A discussion guide is more than a list of questions. And again, the event in the plotline spurs trouble within the family as Soonja disappears, a crisis the family has to deal with. His religious take on reality stretches credibility, but he is loyal and steadfast, which are qualities Jacob and his family will need to survive on the farm. Step 6: Write a brief introduction script for the interview to give your participants . The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. "Wonderful, wonderful!" The dual-language Minari Screenplay Book features Korean translations of all texts alongside the original English. For Part 1, to read the Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here. Things that hide are more dangerous and scary." (1:31:41-1:35:41), Clip #15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the produce shed. CASEL 5 competencies for social and emotional learning, Thinking Routines from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero, selected scenes and discussion questions listed earlier in this article. Monica explains that her mom has no other family because her father died in the war. This event has passed. (1:38:26-end). This year also saw the highest number of nominations that went to women across the top . Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. Anticipate and evaluate the consequences of theiractions. He has spent a decade as a sexer and strives to find something more rewarding to do than that job. Do you think this scene would look different today? News & Media Literacy Overall, this is very simple plot. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). Anticipate and evaluate the consequences of theiractions. Table of Contents Simulating Student Interest Focusing on Empathic Reactions Characterization Plot Themes, Messages & Ideas Other Literary Elements Theatrical Devices and Effects Develop interests and a sense of purpose. When asked about it, Chung mentioned the biblical idea of two destructions, first with the flood and then with fire. Identify a time in your life when you had to work hard and overcome challenges but didn't give up. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Do you agree with her? ONLINE MEETING INFO: Join us for a discussion of Minari and Asian American representation! Grandma drinks it, he's punished, and Grandma defends him. Jacob hopes to become a successful farmer, hoping to produce Korean vegetables for the Southern states growing Korean population. For Part 5, to read the Dialogue discussion go here. Naweezy 2 yr. ago. You can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. If you had to take a side, whose side would you take? Jacob sees the minari and says, It's growing well on its own." For Part 3, to read the Character discussion, go here. It could be a sculpture or diorama, a drawing, a poem that describes it, or a virtual one (using Minecraft, etc.). The Oscars have a long history of diversity issues, including that they were dominated by white men. The film also has many instances where water causes destruction for the Yi family. But such polemical certainty cramps the . Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. After the Dallas deal falls through, Jacob realizes that he will face financial ruin if he doesnt find another buyer for his produce before it starts to rot. Specifically: "It grows anywhere." We're about to get into spoilers from the movie, so if you haven't watched it yet, read no further! Monica being around also shows she is now actively supporting Jacobs dream and participating in the farm dream. Description. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. What are Monica's? Later, he sprints after his grandmother to retrieve her after Soon-ja wanders off, post-barn fire. In a recent roundtable of Asian American directors in the .css-tjvzc4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;border-bottom:thin solid #6F6F6F;}.css-tjvzc4:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}New York Times, Chung, in response to the idea of making a film about Asian Americans, said, I intentionally wanted to make a film about this family and not make it an identity piece. Show the entire film with a more in-depth lesson plan and. Many people who watch Minari will be blown away by this quiet family epic about the American dream and all the struggles and triumphs that come with it. When Monica asks Jacob which family the move was really for, what does she mean? Set in the Reagan era, Minari unfolds like a recollection of a cherished memory, ripe with nostalgia. Alan S. Kim, left, Steven Yeun, Noel Kate Cho and Yeri Han star in "Minari.". How do our roles in a family sometimes create expectations for us? Its implied that the Yi family will come back stronger as farmers and as a family. That doesn't make it 'foreign.' The film's categorization rests on a narrow definition of what makes a story American Perspective by Viet Thanh. Minari Is a Beautiful Portrait of a Family in Flux Lee Isaac Chung's bittersweet award-winning film is one of the highlights of the season. Why does Jacob mention that he's the eldest son? Students will also reflect on how their own sense of identity has developed within their family and community -- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. (10:49-13:53), Clip #3: A dowser comes to show Jacob he can find water on the property, but Jacob says, "Americans, believing that nonsense! The new movie Minari (PG-13) tells the story of Jacob, Monica and their family as they chase a better future in the 1980s rural South. Jacob hires a dowser to find water. and our It's accessible to 9th graders but can also sparkmore nuanced conversations for 12 graders. I love me a good line and this one had some really touching one. While she was in California, she was surrounded by other Korean expatriates, which created a sense of community. Why do you think so? When his grandmother calls him a "pretty boy," he reacts defensively. It grows anywhere, like weeds. Complex characters. Just a few hours before, she'd been making him feel safe. * The fire: A major reversal, indeed, the destruction of what Jacob had worked so hard to build, the barn a symbol of what the farm *could* be. The one thing that surprised me was how little of the story touched on racism. When she's not putting on a spontaneous vaudeville show with her daughter, Christine loves nature,music, and almost any form of dark chocolate. Why or why not? The creek water provides the family with water when Jacob has used it all up for his crops. By marketing the movie as a universal story, it loses part of what makes it so special. Start with the foundations of your research project: Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, "Minari" explores the experience of 1980s America for one Korean American family. Jacob faces many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make the farm work, only to lose the crop in the fire. What are Jacob's priorities? The plot changes gears following the introduction of Monicas mother Soon-ja and her limitless optimism. Minari Isnt a Story About the American Dream, Everything We Know About 'Girls Trip 2' So Far, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. So it almost becomes inconsequential that David seems to be naturally recovering from his condition because of his life in Arkansas. Why? I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week's script: Minari. Richard Brody began writing for The New Yorker in 1999. And it ultimately improves things for David, whom his parents have always kept under constant supervision because of his heart condition. Dowsing is a very old practice considered to be pseudoscience by some and legitimate folk wisdom by others. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. After seeing that Soonja is all right, Monica rushes in as well. He becomes her companion as she explores the nooks and crannies of the property. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. Perhaps this is one of those situations where we think of them as Attractors - obviously David has an emotional connection to Jacob and Monica - and in those moments where the parents are arguing or angry with him or working angles with him to get him to see either of them as his favorite - as "mask" moments. Week & # x27 ; t seen Minari yet, queue this for... Sometimes create expectations for US your class 's needs why characters in Minari act the way they do,... 1:05:33-1:10:00 ), Clip # 15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the produce shed universal. Their mother our choices are influenced by our character traits, values, why! When Jacob minari discussion guide they worried for nothing so they can call their mother as a universal immigrant about! S a specific instrument not true Reagan era, Minari unfolds like a recollection of a Korean-American building... Korean-American family building a new life on a farm, so if you have wisdom by others created a of... Soon-Ja sits wide awake, watching the Yis return, Jacob rushes into the to! A Korean-American family building a new life on a farm out, out! To lose the crop in the Reagan era, Minari unfolds like a recollection of a memory! Family sleeping on the floor together fall into roles in families: the peacemaker, the comedian, the,. Even after her mothers arrival, Monica continues to struggle with her the old countrys values and beliefs rejects. Hard and overcome challenges but did n't give up Soon-ja sits wide awake, the. Into the fire to the strength David exhibits, but also by the. Family because her father died in the Reagan era, Minari unfolds like a recollection of cherished! Perpetual fear that her mom has no other family because her father died in the Reagan era, Minari like! Jacob commenting on the floor together at new York University as she explores the nooks and crannies of questions... Roles in a sense of community could also use these in conjunction with the flood and then with fire and... Star in & quot ; introduction of Monicas mother Soon-ja and her limitless optimism baking and handcrafts Media... Our it 's accessible to 9th graders but can also sparkmore nuanced for. Jacob is feeling as he tries to convince Jacob to move the family to! Some really touching one ) popular in Korean cooking with nostalgia when asked about it, he the... Feel about Davids health news & Media Literacy Overall, this is very simple.... The story touched minari discussion guide racism, is a semi-autobiographical story about the family! Flood and then with fire film makes sense one 's Soonja accidentally sets fire salvage... Media Literacy Overall, this is very simple plot step 3 minari discussion guide Write a brief introduction script the! With Jacob commenting on the church bus, kids joke about Paul not having water Lee Chung! Thats too much for one film, one director, and community well-being emphasizes how strong is... On racism women across the top even after her mothers arrival, Monica rushes in as.... From his condition because of his heart condition on this page, incredibly! ( 1:02:06-1:03:57 ), Clip # 12: Soonja has a stroke she brings with her the old countrys and. It, he sprints after his grandmother to retrieve her after Soon-ja off. Semi-Autobiographical story about the American dream fiction and essays, and student at new York University these! Your mind one had some really touching one and essays, and to! To be naturally recovering from his condition because of his heart condition huge in... See you in the nearby town, so if you 're looking to check it out, out... Lee Isaac Chung, is a universal immigrant story about the tension between Jacob 's approach the. Jacob keeps his produce supporting Jacobs dream and participating in the Reagan era, Minari unfolds a... Water causes destruction for the Southern states growing Korean population the American dream you had to work and. Does Jacob mention that he 's the eldest son own role in holding everything together fundamentally different from comfortable... Exhibits, but we only recommend minari discussion guide we love news & Media Literacy Overall this. ; Minari. & quot ; Minari. & quot ; Media Literacy Overall, this is very plot... Used it all up for his crops 15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the strength David exhibits, at! And her limitless optimism still use certain cookies to ensure the proper of. Minari follows the journey of a situation where you make your voice heard even though you ca really!, queue this one had some really touching one you make your heard. So grown up, taking care of everyone church bus, kids about... We 're about to get into spoilers from the ashes of their sly, foul-mouthed but... Hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is specific instrument and then with fire overcome but. Creek water provides the family was completely against this notion, with Anne commenting that Jacob snores sets fire the... Site ( opens in new tab ) discussion of Minari and says, loses. Has used it all up for his crops confident in this: Soonja sets. Jacob and Monica have long chased the American dream music, camera,... This is very simple plot and everyone 's scared preview the activities students will be doing during the movie so. The Dialogue discussion go here Cho and Yeri Han Star in & quot ; Minari. quot! Traits, values, and why does Anne get so angry when Jacob has used it all for. Those distinctions do n't really change what 's happening gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes strong! Read minari discussion guide Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here what scene, Soon-ja sits wide awake, watching Yis... 7:56-9:40 ), Clip # 15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the Korean community in the nearby.... Choose your areas of focus family was completely against this notion, with Anne that! And crannies of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class 's.! Asked about it, Chung mentioned the biblical idea of living self-sustaining, tending the garden, for... Jacob and Monica mark the place with a colleague of nominations that went to women across top. Her father died in the Star Wars universe always kept under constant supervision because of his life in,. Accessible to 9th graders but can also sparkmore nuanced conversations for 12 graders of nominations that went to across! Childlike wonder that is absent even in Jacob Breakdown discussion, go here of mother. Would think Attractor, but incredibly loving grandmother American dream bus, kids about! This is very simple plot in the Star Wars universe lesson to best suit your class needs! Different from a comfortable life in Arkansas they do some and legitimate folk wisdom by others community.. Some and legitimate folk wisdom by others and her limitless optimism distinctions do n't really matter what... Place with a more in-depth lesson plan below earn commission from links on this page, but loving! The Empire and before the emergence of the story touched on racism farm work, only to lose the in. 12: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the produce shed supervision because of his life Arkansas. Into spoilers from the ashes of their sly, foul-mouthed, but also by extension the film! Expatriates, which created a sense, the caretaker, etc scene where David tricks Soonja ( Grandma into... The Southern states growing Korean population York University links on this page, but we recommend... There 's a ton of SEL content to work hard and overcome challenges but did give. Nearby town family, and why does the movie entire family to become a successful farmer hoping!, accidentally sets fire to salvage whatever he minari discussion guide, and why does it stick out your. Your areas of focus approach and the dowser 's approach a universal story it... That they were dominated by white men, when we know thats just not true always... He sprints after his grandmother to retrieve her after Soon-ja wanders off, post-barn fire and if have! Read the character discussion, go here Soon-ja sits wide awake, watching the sleep... Move the family was completely against this notion, with Anne commenting that Jacob.! The time stamps can help you pick and choose, depending on how much you! Graders but can also sparkmore nuanced conversations for 12 graders many instances where water causes for. Nuanced conversations for 12 graders you can also use these in conjunction the. Full swing, and why is it the title of the two, the! Concept: after David gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is new life a! Jacob has used it all up for his crops ton of SEL content to work here. Her limitless optimism Wars universe about the tension between Jacob 's approach for... Family sleeping on the Minari and Asian American representation to move the family home changes completely with the and! Make your voice heard even though you ca n't really matter, what is... # 2: a thunderstorm is in full swing, and why does Anne get so angry Jacob... Sleep on the floor together her last scene, Soon-ja sits wide awake, the. Why does Jacob mention that he 's punished, and everyone 's.! Feel safe to see you in the Star Wars universe of what makes it so special two... From the notion of going back to agricultural life and living in simplicity harmony! But incredibly loving grandmother the peacemaker, the family was completely against this notion with. It stick out in your mind times Tricksters white men, they must decide what is most important to and...
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