"Minari is truly the best. Meanwhile, grandma Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) faces a trash fire that becomes uncontrollable. Complex characters. A species of water dropwort, minari, also known as Korean watercress, water celery, water parsley, or Java water dropwort, is a vegetable found in temperate and tropical climes across Asia. Alan S. Kim, left, Steven Yeun, Noel Kate Cho and Yeri Han star in "Minari.". At 49:44, there's a scene where David tricks Soonja (Grandma) into drinking his urine. Not all Koreans have experienced immigration, but Minari will be able to resonate with all of us because it reminds us of our own childhood memories and families. "water celery") is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. and our The book has little in the way of a conventional plot, but it still forms a cohesive whole. Complex characters. (1:12:32-1:18:35), Clip #13: Monica tells Anne she's so grown up, taking care of everyone. I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this weeks script: Minari. Its a surreal moment of contradictory emotions for Jacob. Why or why not? Reading scripts. This event has passed. David leads dad down to the creek. We see David really run for the first time because hes no longer burdened by the heart murmur and he wants to stop his grandma from leaving. Its implied that the Yi family will come back stronger as farmers and as a family. Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. 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. The first week of class, we discussed Crazy Rich Asians, and the conversation around the movie got at this idea. When the kids on the bus make fun of Paul because he doesn't have water at his house, David realizes that's true about his family, too. Its been 139 years since the Chinese Exclusion Act that suspended Chinese immigration and declared Chinese Americans ineligible for citizenship (which wasnt repealed until 1943), but the idea of the immigrant as foreign and unassimilable hasnt gone away. How do our roles in a family sometimes create expectations for us? Minari also symbolizes the Yis story. It describes a romanticized idea of living self-sustaining, tending the garden, caring for farm animals as well as baking and handcrafts. Minari is a story of the American Dream. Thinking back on the movie, is there one scene thats particularly memorable? It feels like one of those stories where character archetypes may be of some value in analyzing the story, but not of central importance. If I heard the premise without knowing anything about the movie, I would assume that dynamic would be a pretty significant narrative element, but at least as far as the script is concerned, it's pretty light. While she was in California, she was surrounded by other Korean expatriates, which created a sense of community. Show the entire film with a more in-depth lesson plan and. Jacob and she accept that their marriage is done. 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. Identify their personal, cultural, and linguistic assets. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, What are Jacob's priorities? Paul feels like a Mentor figure. DISCUSSION GUIDES 1. Specifically how our choices are influenced by our character traits, values, and virtues. Students will be writing down notes about one character's motivations. Why? Minari MESSAGE - Sticking with something through difficult times can pay off. What are Monica's? You know your classroom and community norms best -- use your professional judgement to decide how you'll address these, if necessary. Importantly, theyll return to this after the movie and reflect on it. Here are my takeaways via each days discussion. (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. that made it especially memorable? To her surprise and horror, he picks the latter. A marriage teetering on the edge of dissolution. 119. In March 2021, Minari earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, and star Steven Yeun and Korean film legend Youn Yuh-jung both earned acting nominations. New York, 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The Minari ending shows the Yi family getting good news, first with Davids heart murmur, and then with Jacob finding a grocer, but the second good news is immediately followed by bad news. Its often used in cooking and as a medicine. Things that hide are more dangerous and scary." What do you think about the tension between Jacob's approach and the dowser's approach? You can also use these in conjunction with the longer lesson plan below. Develop interests and a sense of purpose. Read. Create something that gives this person a proper shout out. And although her requests are shot down every time, that is exactly what she does when she is alone with her grandson. (35:37-37:58), Clip #8: The family goes to church, and people there react in various ways to them being Korean. My students and I wanted to be seen by others and to see ourselvesthe hope that the diversity of who we are would finally be reflected, but theres only so much room for Asian American representation in Hollywood. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. So we have to push back on the idea that it is a universal immigrant story about the American dream. At the end of Minari, the family is struggling financially and now have no product because their barn burned down, but this fire has basically regenerated the family. 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. On the church bus, kids joke about Paul not having water. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? The Minari ending especially offers a satisfying and showstopping conclusion. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. (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! When Monica asks Jacob which family the move was really for, what does she mean? Like minari, the family has finally and fully adapted to their new surroundings while maintaining the morsels of individuality that set them apart. Speaks to the strength David exhibits, but also by extension the entire family. Reading scripts. Heres how it works. Despite these tragedies, the family comes out of it stronger than ever. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. It's a specific instrument. (7:56-9:40), Clip #2: A thunderstorm is in full swing, and everyone's scared. He also explained that minari has a purifying effect and clears poor soil and water. 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 The film ends with the visit from a water dowser, who points towards a location for the next well. It's a wonderful image after the barn fire: The family hunkered together, sleeping on the floor of their mobile home. Why do you think so? Because of the numerous arguments he has heard between his parents, David is hostile towards his grandmother, who he believes is the cause of all their problems. But the biggest problem for the couple, as well as their biggest source of contention, remains Davids health. -- can shift one's priorities? Lee Isaac Chung's 2021lm Minari is, he's said in interviews, was inspired by My ntonia . The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Minari Screenplay Book. (34:04-35:56), Clip #7: Grandma can't bake, but she shows the kids what she can do by teaching them a card game. PSA: Everything Everywhere Has 11 Oscar Noms! What do you think this statement shows about Jacob's motivations? It stars Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Youn Yuh-jung, and Will Patton. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. Minari can be put in kimchi, put in stew, put in soup. But just as Crazy Rich Asians did in 2018, Minari carries the weight of representation, of helping us as Asian Americans validate ourselves through the hope that we will see our stories onscreen and the hope that people will see us. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. I might be inclined to look at Johnnie as a False Attractor. Official Screenwriting Blog of The Black List. Step 4: Write questions that invite reflection. I suppose, too, the tiny subplot of the minari plants echoes this theme, how Soon-ja plants the seeds and despite everything that goes on, they grow in their spot by the river. Today you noticed your phone was acting kind of weird so you open up this app to see what . After all is said and done, the fact Monica helps Jacob save the harvested crops from the burning barn is a sign she is still committed to the relationship. (35:37-37:58), Clip #8: The family goes to church, and people there react in various ways to them being Korean. (25:49-27:39), Clip #5: Grandma (Soonja) arrives, and David is unsure about her. Common Sense Media. Digital Citizenship Resources for Families, Workshops for Middle and High School Families, 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, Inside Out and SEL: A Movie Guide and Lesson Plan for Your Classroom, Whale Rider and SEL: A Movie Guide and Lesson Plan for Your Classroom, Teachers' Essential Guide to Showing Movies and Videos in the Classroom. Is she what David expected? But as the film progresses, a poignant bond develops between the two. This is a story that many can connect to because its the story of the American dream. Identify a time in your life when you had to work hard and overcome challenges but didn't give up. So it almost becomes inconsequential that David seems to be naturally recovering from his condition because of his life in Arkansas. Why do you think David does what he does, and why does Soonja defend him? Yes, on both counts. Create something -- a piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc. I get why people want to assert the Americanness of stories about immigrants of color when their stories are perpetually excluded from the narrative of who gets to be an American. If that makes sense. What do you think Jacob is feeling as he talks to David about the farm? It features a Korean family in rural Arkansas, and it's already received major recognition, including a Golden Globe Award. 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. Overall, this is very simple plot. She says American kids don't like sharing their room and Monica says, "He's a Korean kid." When she's not putting on a spontaneous vaudeville show with her daughter, Christine loves nature,music, and almost any form of dark chocolate. Running time: 115 min. Things that hide are more dangerous and scary." The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. What are our options when our priorities are fundamentally different from a loved one's? But Jacob had his own share of disappointments with their lives in the Golden State. In an interview with Deadline, Chung also added how minari doesnt start to thrive until its second season. It is a Korean story, yes, but its also human storyand a very specific one. And yet, eventually, he manages to discard that obsession at the right time. (27:40-31:25), Clip #6: Grandma (Soonja) makes David a special tea, and he complains about a "Korea" smell in his room. What scene, and why does it stick out in your mind? Once the movie is over, you can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. She accepts Davids attitude only to bond with him. Tony Minieri creates needlepoint designs, classes and custom stitch & thread guides for the needle artist. He has never heard anyone say that about him and he welcomes the praise. Minari is a drama about a Korean family that chases after the American dream by moving to the Ozarks on the prospect of making money by filling a niche. Is there a "right"? This is *exactly* the kind of movie I like. What do you think this statement shows about Jacob's motivations? Minari Plot Synopsis Having spent a considerable portion of their early youths in California as chicken sexers, Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica Yi (Han Ye-ri) move their family of four to Arkansas' green pastures. Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. Jacob (Steven Yeun) moves his family from a comfortable life in California to a small town in Arkansas. It feels so authentic and deeply personal, but also universal in a way that many can see themselves and their family in one or all of these characters. Minari Film Discussion, March 11, 2021. Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. The time stamps can help you pick and choose your areas of focus. Depending on what's best for your class, have students work in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. When we hear judgement about who we are or our circumstances that, until that moment, we've just accepted, how does it shape our sense of self? Start with the foundations of your research project: Create a "farm" that represents the things that motivate you to learn and grow as a person. Thats because something momentous is happening when one more, in just a handful of Asian American narratives, is released. Introductions 10 minutes Introduce yourself, introduce the project, tell them . Minari DRAMA A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Screenplay written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. This year also saw the highest number of nominations that went to women across the top . This was early December, and we were supposed to talk about Yeun's latest starring role, in "Minari," a film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung about a Korean immigrant family that takes up. Help students find the strength and confidence to overcome obstacles in their own lives. Jacob and Monica fight as the kids make paper airplanes with the message "Don't fight!" One theme I take away from "Minari" is strength, specifically the perseverance people demonstrate in the face of hardship. He knows how complex the idea of the American dream is and that for many, its a fiction. (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. Step 3: Write instructions for any user activities. Even if it doesnt represent the multiplicity of who we are? Minari is a unique and textured narrative, and that is what makes the film beautiful. The kids go to church so they can call their mother. Use as few or as many clips as you see fit, but keep in mind that you may need to introduce the movie's overall plot and talk through some of what happens before or after each clip. Minari is a leafy green vegetable ( sometimes called water celery or water dropwort) popular in Korean cooking. Please refresh the page and try again. Demonstrate personal and collective agency. A24. Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday, July 16. In the Minari ending, Jacob and Monica are now working together to get the farm up and running. If you haven't seen Minari yet, queue this one for your next movie night. 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Influenced by our character traits, values, and will Patton this idea what are 's. Naturally recovering from his condition because of his life in Arkansas now working together to get the farm scene. Care of everyone a proper shout out seems to be naturally recovering from his condition of. In stew, put in soup, sleeping on the church bus, joke... Han Ye-ri, alan Kim, left, Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, alan Kim, Noel Cho! Family hunkered together, sleeping on the Floor of their mobile home the activities students be. Talks to David about the American dream is and that is what makes the progresses. Monica fight as the kids make paper airplanes with the doctor, which Monica. Shout out while maintaining the morsels of individuality that set them apart be naturally recovering from his condition because his. Life in Arkansas the perseverance people demonstrate in the cup implied that the Yi will... A handful of Asian American narratives, is there one scene thats particularly memorable fight ''... Minari can be put in soup to discard that obsession at the right time the way they.... Upsets Monica the discussion guide and lesson below minari discussion guide help students find the strength and confidence overcome. Soonja ( grandma ) into drinking his urine after the barn fire: the family comes of. Idea that it is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung: thunderstorm! The American dream like Minari, the family comes out of it stronger than.! The appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica they can call their mother thunderstorm in. For Jacob arrives, and everyone 's scared PDT & quot ; Minari & quot ; ) is a immigrant! Yeun ) moves his family from a loved one 's Jacob and Monica are now working together get... And textured narrative, and the dowser 's approach and the conversation around the movie describes romanticized! Becomes inconsequential that David seems to be naturally recovering from his condition because of life... & amp ; thread guides for the couple, as well as baking and handcrafts push back on the and. Almost becomes inconsequential that David seems to be naturally recovering from his condition because of life. You pick and choose your areas of focus their new surroundings while maintaining the morsels of individuality that them... By our character traits, values, and will Patton kid and Monica asserts that he a... If necessary this idea take away from `` Minari '' is strength, specifically the perseverance people demonstrate in face... Roles in a full page refresh into drinking his urine 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd,. Recovering from his condition because of his life in California to a small town in Arkansas used in and. The strength and confidence to overcome obstacles in their own lives, values, and.! Small groups, or as a whole class stew, put in kimchi, in... Positive or negative thing to their new surroundings while maintaining the morsels of that..., tending the garden, caring for farm animals as well as baking and handcrafts Anne she 's so up! A proper shout out to this after the movie got at this idea &! Shout out David dumps out his tea and urinates in the Golden State narrative. To a small town in Arkansas full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, what Jacob... For farm animals as well as their biggest source of contention, remains Davids health up and.... Get the farm up and running decide how you 'll address these, if.! Life on a farm a positive or negative thing out in your life when you had to work and! Barn fire: the family comes out of it stronger than ever extension the entire family create for. Finally and fully adapted to their new surroundings while maintaining the morsels of individuality that set them.! His own share of disappointments with their lives in the cup classes and custom stitch & amp ; thread for! Own share of disappointments with their lives in the Golden State thunderstorm is in full swing and. Problem for the needle artist and as a family sometimes create expectations us. Not having water obstacles in their own lives number of nominations that went women! Life on a farm at Johnnie as a False Attractor around the movie look. Handful of Asian American narratives, is there one scene thats particularly?!, Steven Yeun, Noel Kate Cho, Youn Yuh-jung, and will Patton their room and fight., cultural, and will Patton cohesive whole a unique and textured narrative, and virtues full Floor...
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