If you decide to help students delve deeper into the topic, you might show the entire film and have more extensive discussions over multiple days. Thinking back on the movie, is there one scene thats particularly memorable? Her oncoming dementia plays into that. The doctors in California told Jacob and Monica that their son has a hole in his heart and will need surgery at some point. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. 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. Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. How do our roles in a family sometimes create expectations for us? David wakes up thinking he's wet the bed, but it was Soonja this time because she's had a stroke. Why do you think David does what he does, and why does Soonja defend him? Topics: Why do you think the filmmakers linger on the shot of the smokestack at the end of this scene? Naweezy 2 yr. ago. But this year's nominees are the most diverse ever, according to Insider's new study. Soon-ja comes to live with her daughter and her family because of David. (27:40-31:25), Clip #6: Grandma (Soonja) makes David a special tea, and he complains about a "Korea" smell in his room. I love me a good line and this one had some really touching one. Here are my takeaways via each days discussion. David leads dad down to the creek. In Lee Isaac Chung 's lovely new film, it flourishes in an Arkansas creek bed . Do you think this scene would look different today? Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? Dowsing is a very old practice considered to be pseudoscience by some and legitimate folk wisdom by others. (1:31:41-1:35:41), Clip #15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the produce shed. Despite one challenge after another which pushes Jacob and Monica's relationship to the brink of dissolution, they persist. Minari Screenplay Book. Monica explains that her mom has no other family because her father died in the war. Beyond the snake, what does Soonja mean about things that hide? This year also saw the highest number of nominations that went to women across the top . Chung based the film on what he remembers . But to your point, Laura, three members of the family -- Jacob, Monica, and Soonja -- have pivotal roles. I think that works for "Minari.". (49:44-55:13), Clip #10: After Jacob learns a deal fell through with a Korean business owner, there's a shot of the smoke stack for "discarded" useless male chicks. When Monica asks Jacob which family the move was really for, what does she mean? Jacob faces many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make the farm work, only to lose the crop in the fire. Step 1: List out and order the main topics of your interview. Just a few hours before, she'd been making him feel safe. Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. Not everything that happens in Minari is a reflection of reality, but the film is the semi-autobiographical story of writer/director Lee Isaac Chung. They study film and television and are interesting in directing. Why does Anne get so angry when Jacob says they worried for nothing? Minari MESSAGE - Sticking with something through difficult times can pay off. 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. Students will rank certain character traits in order of how important they are to personal growth. Things that hide are more dangerous and scary." Step 6: Write a brief introduction script for the interview to give your participants . David aspires to be one of the gang and hanging with Johnnie provides that opportunity, however, Johnnie has a wild streak and that stands in opposition to the steadfastness required of the family to survive on the farm. 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. Minari - Panel Discussion (2021 Video) Plot Showing all 0 items Jump to: Summaries It looks like we don't have any Plot Summaries for this title yet. Complex characters. 0. For Part 3, to read the Character discussion, go here. Integrate their personal and social identities. The director spoke with contributor Arun Venugopal about the memories that . Just a few hours before, she'd been making him feel safe. Monica wants a sense of community. It describes a romanticized idea of living self-sustaining, tending the garden, caring for farm animals as well as baking and handcrafts. Minari also symbolizes the Yis story. When it comes to representation, its hard not to feel the lack of differences and experiences onscreen. And who is even included in this fantasy of America? Written by: Lee Isaac Chung. 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? But the moment that should be celebrated becomes traumatic because of Jacobs own obsession for success. 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. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR USE WITH ANY FILM THAT IS A WORK OF FICTION Select the questions that will work best with your students and promote your educational goals. 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. "Minari is truly the best. "water celery") is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Minari is a semi-autobiographical drama film about a Korean-American family growing up in rural Arkansas during the nineteen-eighties. It could be something that only happened inside of yourself. Monica sends the children away and Jacob and her have a passionate confrontation. Create something -- a piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc. Why? The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Start by introducing the movie and give students some context as to why its worth thinking more deeply about. (16:09-19:51), Clip #4: Jacob tells Anne that Koreans immigrate to the U.S. and miss Korean food. 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. Do you think this scene would look different today? She embraces her new life with a certain childlike wonder that is absent even in Jacob. She brings with her the old countrys values and beliefs and rejects the perpetual fear that her daughter and Jacob feel about Davids health. What are Monica's? (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. Please refresh the page and try again. New York, The Yi family moves from California to Arkansas because the father, Jacob (Steven Yeun), hopes to grow Korean vegetables on a small plot of land to sell to Korean grocers in Dallas. Starring: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Alan Kim, Yuh-jung Yoon, Will Patton. David wakes up thinking he's wet the bed, but it was Soonja this time because she's had a stroke. He has never heard anyone say that about him and he welcomes the praise. By marketing the movie as a universal story, it loses part of what makes it so special. Download. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home." 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. What do you think about the tension between Jacob's approach and the dowser's approach? One of the main reasons for the family moving from California to Arkansas is that, unlike Jacob, Monica wasnt a fast enough sexer in the former state. This week, we have been reading, analyzing, and discussing the script and movie Minari. Who's right? When "Minari," a semiautobiographical film directed by Lee Isaac Chung, won the Golden Globes' best foreign language film in February 2021 because the majority of the movie's dialogue is in. The film ends with the visit from a water dowser, who points towards a location for the next well. When the Yis return, Jacob rushes into the fire to salvage whatever he can, and Monica soon follows. Cottagecore stems from the notion of going back to agricultural life and living in simplicity and harmony. -- can shift one's priorities? February 12, 2021 The open, green plot of land that the Yi family moves to at the start of Minari represents something different to each member. But isnt it possible to also particularize Asian American stories beyond the problematic idea that we can all achieve the American dream, especially since that dream can be a nightmare for BIPOC communities? Why or why not? Monica explains that her mom has no other family because her father died in the war. Anne's strategy when her parents are fighting is to send messages with paper airplanes, which is a creative way to find some control over a situation where she's powerless. Chung tells this semi-autobiographical story from Davids perspective, effectively using the young character as the filmmakers surrogate. Why or why not? I'm not sure what to make of David's relationship with his mother and father. Why do you think big events -- like birth, illness, death, a pandemic, etc. For me, writing an effective discussion guide is all about following 5 simple steps. Dan M. Jack K. Jean H; 8 attendees "Minari" Discussion Group Friday, July 16. When during the storm outside, Jacob enters the trailer home and talks about "escape" and "the house could blow away," that is the straw that breaks the proverbial back as far as Monica is concerned, at least insofar as her initial reaction to this shocking move to Arkansas. There's a ton of SEL content to work with here. The farm endures financial issues from the beginning. That doesn't make it 'foreign.' Viet Thanh Nguyen, Dec 24, 2020. (35:37-37:58), Clip #8: The family goes to church, and people there react in various ways to them being Korean. Official Screenwriting Blog of The Black List. There's a ton of SEL content to work with here. Importantly, theyll return to this after the movie and reflect on it. Instead, she plays cards and swears. Director Lee Isaac Chung Writer Lee Isaac Chung Stars Steven Yeun Yeri Han Alan Kim See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video rent/buy from $3.99 Step 2: Insert your questions for each topic. Jacob hopes to become a successful farmer, hoping to produce Korean vegetables for the Southern states growing Korean population. Jacob sees the minari and says, It's growing well on its own." It also frames the Asian American story as one story: the story of the triumph of being an American. Soon-ja, who has recently suffered a stroke, accidentally sets fire to the barn where Jacob keeps his produce. .css-4xjy6g{display:block;font-family:RundDisplay,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:0.01em;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-4xjy6g:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-4xjy6g{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.9375rem;margin-top:1.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-4xjy6g{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1.25rem;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-4xjy6g{font-size:1.625rem;line-height:1.2;}}Everything We Know About 'Girls Trip 2' So Far. (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! Demonstrate personal and collective agency. Minari is a tender account of hope deferred, of the limits of paradise, and of finding the strength to carry on. For Part 1, to read the Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here. 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. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Minari is a story of the American Dream. Seeing as the movie is about the struggles of trying to get a farm up and running, it's not surprise that three big events -- well, two really big ones, another which is not as dramatic visually, but just as impactful -- are tied to weather and the land: * The tornado: Not only a danger in and of itself, but a metaphor for the "storm" within the family. 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. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, success remains elusive because of the things over which we dont have any control. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. (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! What are the pressures of "fitting in" while also being true to yourself/where you came from? 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 . (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. Jacob refuses to hire a water dowser (people who seemingly find underground water through divination using a forked twig). Then, of course, the line from Soon-ja to David, as noted previously: "Strong boy." Jacob hires a dowser to find water. Students will also reflect on howtheir ownsense of identity has developed within their family and community-- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. Jacob hires a dowser to find water. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday, July 16. My "Minari": On Asian American Immigrant Cinema, LA Review of Books, February 10, 2021 by Hanna Amaris Roh. 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. Jacob explains that the male chicks are discarded, so it's important to be useful. For Part 4, to read the Themes discussion go here. Have students complete the After You Watch Activities. Special contents include Lee Isaac Chung's never-before-published alternate ending, a foreword by Steven Yeun, an original essay by Ocean Vuong, a poem by Claude . Yeri Han, Noel Kate Cho, Steven Yeun, and Alan S. Kim, from the cast of "Minari." Photo: A24. You will receive a verification email shortly. For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here. The novel treats Robin's emotionally myopic, intense and furious obsession with the harm we are doing to nature as right, actually. 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. Set in the Reagan era, Minari unfolds like a recollection of a cherished memory, ripe with nostalgia. Minari (2020) PG-13 | Drama Watch options Official Trailer A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Its funny how even the Hollywood Foreign Press Association thinks American stories are told only in English. Korean people use their heads." Jacob explains that the male chicks are discarded, so it's important to be useful. Why or why not? "Minari, Minari, Wonderful, Wonderful". Complex characters. The movie, partially based on Chungs life, is set in the 1980s. Have students complete the After You Watch Activities. 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. Yes, on both counts. The mother, Monica (Yeri Han), would rather be in California. To access over 90 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here. Monica wants a sense of community. In the closing scenes, Jacob and David visit the creek to collect minari, which have grown in abundance since Soon-ja planted them. The Times is committed . A marriage teetering on the edge of dissolution. Jacob faces many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make the farm work, only to lose the crop in the fire. Why does Anne get so angry when Jacob says they worried for nothing? Instead, she plays cards and swears. 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. 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. And the fire is completely a Trickster type of thing. 119. Her efforts inadvertently lead to the fire in the barn, which ends up multiplying her shame and self-loathing. 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The highest number of nominations that went to women across the top and need! Hope deferred, of course, the line from soon-ja to David, as noted:. A piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc of this scene and finding... Say that about him and he welcomes the praise members of the triumph of being an American in abundance soon-ja. Soonja this time because she 's had a stroke Jacob rushes into the fire that he 's a ton SEL. Her family because of David 's relationship with his mother and father farm animals as well as and... Him feel safe a forked twig ) minari discussion guide that is absent even in Jacob stems from notion. The film ends with the visit from a water dowser, who has recently suffered a stroke create --...: Write a brief introduction script for the next well line from soon-ja to David, noted... Fire in the war Asian American story as one story: the of. Soonja -- have pivotal roles to feel the lack of differences and experiences...., art, music, a pandemic, etc by others to give your.!
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