Why does his grandma telling him he's a "strong boy" contradict the identity he's used to? Identify their personal, cultural, and linguistic assets. Jacob (Steven Yeun) moves his family from a comfortable life in California to a small town in Arkansas. Though it wasn't hugely popular among teens, it's possible that some of your students have seen it, so it's helpful to make a strict "If you know it, don't blow it" rule to prevent spoilers. Besides, he also said that before the final editing there was a scene showing she was alive. Help students find the strength and confidence to overcome obstacles in their own lives. Yes. Why or why not? 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. While she was in California, she was surrounded by other Korean expatriates, which created a sense of community. She lets him know that she can no longer be with him. You can also use these in conjunction with the longer lesson plan below. -- can shift one's priorities? He has spent a decade as a sexer and strives to find something more rewarding to do than that job. As she starts to wander away into the distance, over-burdened by her emotions, her grandchildren pull her back to sanity and help her return home safely. By marketing the movie as a universal story, it loses part of what makes it so special. Why? Why do you think so? You can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. You can also use these in conjunction with the longer lesson plan below. 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. Its a surreal moment of contradictory emotions for Jacob. Specifically how our choices are influenced by our character traits, values, and virtues. When I'm not writing about pop culture, I can be found channeling Gordon Ramsay by kicking people out the kitchen. Make sure to pause periodically (feel free to use the timestamps above) and give kids a chance to write or draw responses to the prompts on their handouts. choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. 1 review Get A Copy Amazon Stores Kindle Edition Published March 26th 2021 More Details. Here are some useful distinctions: Research objectives: Sometimes called "research questions," research objectives represent the goals of the research. (1:02:06-1:03:57), Clip #11: After David gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is. For Part 4, to read the Themes discussion go here. Films like Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, The Half of It, and Always Be My Maybe are great and they are a start, sure, but it still feels like a momentous event when one of these films comes out. What's Anne's role in the family? This week, we have been reading, analyzing, and discussing the script and movie Minari. Anne is a quiet force in the movie, taking care of David and trying to make things easier for her parents. Yet Minari is, in many ways, an optimistic movie about the American immigrant dream. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. Due to his heart problems, he is discouraged from physical exertion. Depending on what's best for your class, have students work in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Major kudos to Aditya Raute for doing this weeks scene-by-scene breakdown. Like minari, the family has finally and fully adapted to their new surroundings while maintaining the morsels of individuality that set them apart. Besides learning that his son will be alright, he has managed to secure a buyer in Oklahoma City for his vegetables. Jacob then gets more good news when the grocery store owner agrees to have Jacob be his produce supplier. They'll also considerhow this might play out for others who aren't like themselves. What are Jacob's priorities? "Minari" 's style is a disheartening example of the gravitational pull that such conventions exert on the cinema at large. 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. For Part 5, to read the Dialogue discussion go here. ONLINE MEETING INFO: Join us for a discussion of Minari and Asian American representation! Again, demonstrating his growing strength. Newer Post . Why do you think David does what he does, and why does Soonja defend him? She tries to convince Jacob to move the family closer to the Korean community in the nearby town. (7:56-9:40), Clip #2: A thunderstorm is in full swing, and everyone's scared. He becomes her companion as she explores the nooks and crannies of the property. (1:12:32-1:18:35), Clip #13: Monica tells Anne she's so grown up, taking care of everyone. When it comes to representation, its hard not to feel the lack of differences and experiences onscreen. For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here. The heartfelt film from the studios of A24 tells the tender story of a Korean-American family that starts a farm growing Korean vegetables and endures the struggles of building a home in 1980s Arkansas. At the heart of the movie are questions about the choices we make for our familiesand the priorities behind them. The farm is located an hour away from the nearest hospital, and Monica believes that they are putting their sons life in constant danger by staying there. Uh, You Havent Seen Austin Butlers Elvis Yet?! The David - Soonja relationship is the central one in the story, however Jacob and Monica is also a powerful subplot. Also, he has faith, another quality Jacob's family needs. What unies the narrative? Jacob hires a dowser to find water. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. Synopsis I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week's script: Minari. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? Even after her mothers arrival, Monica continues to struggle with her new circumstances. For Part 3, to read the Character discussion, go here. Later, Anne asks David if he wants to live with mom or dad. Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. Based on Chung's own childhood, 'Minari' is about a Korean American family that moves to rural Arkansas to start a farm. Start by introducing the movie and give students some context as to why its worth thinking more deeply about. Warning! If you had to take a side, whose side would you take? And yet, eventually, he manages to discard that obsession at the right time. That. So we have to push back on the idea that it is a universal immigrant story about the American dream. And who is even included in this fantasy of America? Thinking back on the movie, is there one scene thats particularly memorable? The one thing that surprised me was how little of the story touched on racism. It's interesting to track both of them, how they compare and contrast. At 49:44, there's a scene where David tricks Soonja (Grandma) into drinking his urine. A grandmother and her medical issues. I guessed Lee Isaac Chung's Minari would be different to me from just about any other film I'd seen from how, even those two minutes, evoked my own memories in a . Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? The True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear' Is Lowkey Sad, All the Best Movies Highlighting Black Characters, All the Austin Butler Movies to Catch Up on, The 34 Best Comedies on Hulu to Watch Now, Important: All of Marvels Upcoming Releases. Here's a rundown of all those rich details that made the movie so moving: And by the way, it's possible that a few or a lot of these cultural elements aren't exclusive to the Korean community. Charming, limpid, and earnest, it's both a familiar tale and a wholly new one.. Even if it doesnt represent the multiplicity of who we are? Rich or poor, anyone can enjoy it and be healthy. Grandma drinks it, he's punished, and Grandma defends him. Do you agree with her? Set in the 1980s, the film primarily revolves around the patriarch, Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun)'s dream to build a farm while his family, especially his wife, Monica (Han Ye-ri), struggles to adjust to their new life in . If you only have a single class period, showing just a few key clips below might be perfect. The family flees Korea seeking a better life in the United States. Understand the influences of organizations and systems of behavior. Which brings to mind something I coined a while ago: Simple plot. The novel treats Robin's emotionally myopic, intense and furious obsession with the harm we are doing to nature as right, actually. This lesson is designed to align with the CASEL 5 competencies for social and emotional learning as well as various thinking routines from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. But "Minari" finds its greatest strengths in its sincerity. "water celery") is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. A sweet, tender, and authentic look into a Korean family moving into the United States and vying for that elusive American Dream. -- that illustrates this time. Monica still wants to leave Jacob, and then all the produce is destroyed. 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. Step 3: Write instructions for any user activities. The Times is committed . Support students' learning, and find the best video streaming sites for schools and classrooms. Why? I only noticed how prevalent fire and, especially, water are in Minari because of the brilliant Bong-Joon-ho pointing it out in his interview with Lee Isaac Chung for Variety. As in the film, it grows rampant along the banks of streams and over damp ground, requiring little attention. What do you think Jacob is feeling as he talks to David about the farm? We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. (1:31:41-1:35:41), Clip #15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the produce shed. Jacob hopes to become a successful farmer, hoping to produce Korean vegetables for the Southern states' growing Korean population. If that makes sense. Can you think of someone from your own life, from history, or from a piece of media that's like Anne -- a bit of an "unsung hero" who helps keep things going? Edit Details To ask other readers questions about Minari please sign up . News & Media Literacy She embraces her new life with a certain childlike wonder that is absent even in Jacob. published 21 March 2021 Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a semi-autobiographical story about the Yi family. What scene, and why does it stick out in your mind? Why is it significant that Monica's father died in the Korean War? Cottagecore stems from the notion of going back to agricultural life and living in simplicity and harmony. Promise. Despite these tragedies, the family comes out of it stronger than ever. The movie, partially based on Chungs life, is set in the 1980s. Clip #1: Jacob explains how the male chicks are "discarded," and that means it's important to be useful. 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. (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. Jacob and Monica mark the place with a stone, implying that the farm will be their home from now on. And the fire is completely a Trickster type of thing. Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. Considering Minari is a semi-autobiographical movie, there is no reason to theorize she is dead. Follow More from Medium Bryan Ye in. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. 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. But I kept thinking about how Minari is being marketed and wondered, Is this really a story about the American dream? Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. 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. Isnt it possible to have many Asian American stories? Students will rank certain character traits in order of how important they are to personal growth. Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones. When they find the creek, and after she plants minari seeds, David is there with her to witness the entire process as the plants grow to maturity. They frame the overall domain of insights you hope to uncover. One theme I take away from "Minari" is strength, specifically the perseverance people demonstrate in the face of hardship. 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. Why does Jacob mention that he's the eldest son? Social & Emotional Learning. 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. Theyll build something better from the ashes of their original missteps. Complex characters. When his grandmother calls him a "pretty boy," he reacts defensively. (1:38:26-end). Older Post Why does Jacob mention that he's the eldest son? Minh Ngo (he/they) is a filmmaker, photographer, writer, and student at New York University. Judging from the script, I'd say David is the Protagonist as the story is told through his perspective. 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. 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. As kids, what do moments like this mean about our understanding of the world and how it works? Reading scripts. When Monica asks Jacob which family the move was really for, what does she mean? Jacob hopes to become a successful farmer, hoping to produce Korean vegetables for the Southern states growing Korean population. For Part 4, to read the Themes discussion go here. Jacob explains that the male chicks are discarded, so it's important to be useful. When they're by the creek, Soonja says, "It's better to see [the snake] than have it hide. In the Minari ending, Jacob and Monica are now working together to get the farm up and running. Meanwhile, grandma Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) faces a trash fire that becomes uncontrollable. Despite one challenge after another which pushes Jacob and Monica's relationship to the brink of dissolution, they persist. Create something -- a piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc. He also explained that minari has a purifying effect and clears poor soil and water. A Korean family starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas. Yes, on both counts. Jacob refuses to hire a water dowser (people who seemingly find underground water through divination using a forked twig). Lee Isaac Chungs breathtaking new film Minari is promoted as a staggeringly powerful story of the American dream. It follows a Korean American father whos trying to reimagine what life for his family could look like. The farm endures financial issues from the beginning. Yeri Han, Noel Kate Cho, Steven Yeun, and Alan S. Kim, from the cast of "Minari." Photo: A24. The disconnect which all of them start to feel in their ramshackle trailer in the middle of nowhere continues to fester within Monica throughout the film. Except for David, all Yi family members, his parents and his sister Anne (Noel Kate Cho), were born in Korea. Have students complete the After You Watch Activities. This week is our discussion about the film, Minari: "A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. What are our options when our priorities are fundamentally different from a loved one's? I think that works for "Minari.". Lets deep dive into the Minari ending. Why do you think so? Importantly, theyll return to this after the movie and reflect on it. Create a "farm" that represents the things that motivate you to learn and grow as a person. A week-long analysis of this Oscar-nominated screenplay. 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