Minari (film)

The Korean American Yi family moves from California into their new plot of land in rural Arkansas, where Jacob hopes to grow Korean produce to sell to vendors in Dallas. He enlists the help of Paul, a local man who is religious. While he is optimistic about the life ahead, his wife Monica is disappointed and worries about their son David's heart condition. Jacob and Monica work sexing chicks at the nearby hatchery and argue constantly while David and his sister Anne eavesdrop.

To help watch the kids during the day, they arrange for Monica's mother Soon-ja to travel from Korea. David, who is forced to share a room with her, avoids her because she does not conform to his idea of how a grandmother should be. Still, Soon-ja attempts to adjust to life in the States and bond with the children.

The well that Jacob dug runs dry. Jacob is reluctant to pay for county water, but eventually is forced to do so. He runs into additional difficulties, such as the vendor in Dallas cancelling their order at the last minute. Still, he perseveres despite Monica's repeated desires to return to California. This strains their marriage closer to a breaking point.

Meanwhile, Soon-ja takes the children to plant minari seeds by the creek. She tells them of how resilient and useful the plant is, and predicts plentiful growth. David finally begins to warm to his grandmother after she teaches him card games, bandages his wounds, and soothes him to sleep.

Soon-ja suddenly suffers a stroke overnight. She survives with medical treatment, but is left with impaired movement and speech.

Jacob, Monica, David, and Anne head to Oklahoma City for David's heart appointment and to meet a vendor to sell Jacob's produce. Although they learn that David's heart condition has dramatically improved and Jacob makes a deal to sell vegetables to a Korean grocer, Jacob also indirectly admits to Monica that the success of his crops is more important to him than the stability of their family. Following an emotional argument, the two tacitly agree to separate.

However, Soon-ja accidentally sets the barn containing the produce on fire in their absence. Upon arriving home, Jacob rushes in to save the crops, and Monica soon follows. Eventually, the fire grows out of control, and they decide to save each other while leaving the barn to burn. A distraught and confused Soon-ja begins to leave, but Anne and David rush to bring her back and comfort her.

Some time later, Jacob and David head to the creek to harvest the minari, which had grown successfully. Jacob notes how good of a spot Soon-ja picked to plant them.

• Steven Yeun as Jacob Yi
• Han Ye-ri as Monica Yi
• Alan Kim as David
• Noel Kate Cho as Anne
• Youn Yuh-jung as Soon-ja
• Will Patton as Paul
• Scott Haze as Billy
• Darryl Cox as Mr. Harlan
• Esther Moon as Mrs. Oh

In July 2019, it was announced Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Youn Yuh-Jung, Will Patton and Scott Haze had joined the cast of the film, with Plan B Entertainment producing the film, with A24 distributing.[5]

Principal photography began in July 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[6][7]

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2020.[8] It has screened or will be screened at several film festivals including Deauville,[9] Valladolid,[10] Hamptons,[11] Heartland[12] and Montclair.[13] Initially it was set for release in a limited release on December 11, 2020, before slowly expanding to a wide release on February 12, 2021.[14] However, instead, the film was released through virtual cinema for one week on December 11, 2020, and instead will open theatrically and again in virtual cinemas on February 12, 2021.[15]

Minari will be released on video on demand on February 26, 2021.[16]

According to Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 91 critics gave Minari a positive review, with an average rating of 8.70/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Led by arresting performances from Steven Yeun and Ye-ri Han, Minari offers an intimate and heart-wrenching portrait of family and assimilation in 1980s America."[17] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score 87 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[18]

Minari appeared on over 30 critics' year-end top-10 lists, including first place on five lists and second place on nine.[19]

• Minari at IMDb