Best of 2021: Minari 12A

Lee Isaac Chung’s heartwarming Minari is an award-winning, semi-autobiographical drama that paints a moving portrait of a Korean American family weathering all of life’s joys and sorrows.

In the 1980s, Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Yeri Han) decide to make the daunting move from California to Arkansas to make a fresh start for their family. The dream is to build a farm, live off the land and grow Korean vegetables for the other immigrant families. But rural life is a far cry from the comforts of the city that they had grown accustomed to. They also worry over the future of their son Daniel (Alan S Kim) who has a heart murmur. The arrival of Monica’s mischievous mother Soon-ja (a scene-stealing Yuh-Jung Youn) to help with childcare adds tension to a pot that’s already at risk of bubbling over.

Minari, named after an edible plant known for its ability to root down and thrive in land others would find unforgiving, is a quietly dazzling film that offers an authentic depiction of the immigrant experience and the American dream that overflows with humour and charm.