(1:31:41-1:35:41), Clip #15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the produce shed. Things that hide are more dangerous and scary." While she was in California, she was surrounded by other Korean expatriates, which created a sense of community. 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. 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. In Minari, writer-director Lee Isaac Chung (Munyurangabo) documents a South Korean immigrant familys pursuit of happiness in rural Arkansas. How would you describe the behavior of the people at church toward the Yi family? Minari is a semi-autobiographical drama film about a Korean-American family growing up in rural Arkansas during the nineteen-eighties. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. 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. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. At the heart of the movie are questions about the choices we make for our familiesand the priorities behind them. 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. Do you agree with her? Why do you think the filmmakers linger on the shot of the smokestack at the end of this scene? Why do you think big events -- like birth, illness, death, a pandemic, etc. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. (16:09-19:51), Clip #4: Jacob tells Anne that Koreans immigrate to the U.S. and miss Korean food. On the church bus, kids joke about Paul not having water. Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. Meanwhile, grandma Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) faces a trash fire that becomes uncontrollable. While Jacob, Monica, and the children are heading to the car, Jacob gleefully talks about how this deal came at the best time. "Minari" is directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Major kudos to Aditya Raute for doing this weeks scene-by-scene breakdown. ONLINE MEETING INFO: Join us for a discussion of Minari and Asian American representation! For Part 1, to read the Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here. A discussion guide is a set of questions/tasks/topics that you, the researcher, wish to walk a research participant through in order to reach your learning objectives. They'll also considerhow this might play out for others who aren't like themselves. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Why do you think David does what he does, and why does Soonja defend him? Jacob explains that the male chicks are discarded, so it's important to be useful. (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. Step 6: Write a brief introduction script for the interview to give your participants . 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. Perhaps this is one of those situations where we think of them as Attractors - obviously David has an emotional connection to Jacob and Monica - and in those moments where the parents are arguing or angry with him or working angles with him to get him to see either of them as his favorite - as "mask" moments. 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. Please refresh the page and try again. Its often used in cooking and as a medicine. Because entire countries can't have a smell, what is it David is really reacting to? When the Yis return, Jacob rushes into the fire to salvage whatever he can, and Monica soon follows. Plot summary: A Korean family starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas. The time stamps can help you pick and choose your areas of focus. Chung tells this semi-autobiographical story from Davids perspective, effectively using the young character as the filmmakers surrogate. Anne is a quiet force in the movie, taking care of David and trying to make things easier for her parents. Why or why not? (35:37-37:58), Clip #8: The family goes to church, and people there react in various ways to them being Korean. Start with the foundations of your research project: Though she's not avery dynamiccharacter, she plays a huge role in holding everything together. I am a black woman who grew up poor on the Southside of Chicago, and I felt deeply moved and connected to this film because it made me see my parents' struggles in a different way, and thats one of the remarkable things about Minari. We follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic. 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. "Minari" Discussion Group Friday July 16. "Minari, Minari, Wonderful, Wonderful". I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this weeks script: Minari. It describes a romanticized idea of living self-sustaining, tending the garden, caring for farm animals as well as baking and handcrafts. Much of the movie has subtitles, so if you have students that can benefit from ita simple transcriptand the full screenplay are both available. I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week's script: Minari. It could be a sculpture or diorama, a drawing, a poem that describes it, or a virtual one (using Minecraft, etc.). 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? What unfolds from there may read like a normative immigrant tale of three generational differences, but it felt much more unique than that. When the Yi family arrives, Jacob rushes to the barn to try to stop it, then he tries to save some of his produce. (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. Hand out the graphic organizer and give students a few minutes to complete the Before You Watch question. Soon-ja also serves as a link between Monica and Korea by bringing traditional medicines (for David) and native spices. Minari is a tender account of hope deferred, of the limits of paradise, and of finding the strength to carry on. If you had to take a side, whose side would you take? But Jacob had his own share of disappointments with their lives in the Golden State. The film also has many instances where water causes destruction for the Yi family. Can you think of a situation where you make your voice heard even though you can't really change what's happening? 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. Chung based the film on what he remembers . What's Anne's role in the family? Social & Emotional Learning. 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. 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. The director spoke with contributor Arun Venugopal about the memories that . that made it especially memorable? It can be medicine if you are sick. But we see, at the end, he is going to try again. As kids, what do moments like this mean about our understanding of the world and how it works? It features a Korean family in rural Arkansas, and it's already received major recognition, including a Golden Globe Award. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Why does his grandma telling him he's a "strong boy" contradict the identity he's used to? 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. They save each other, and in the process, salvage their relationship. Ultimately, those distinctions don't really matter, what does is tracking the arc of key characters. Is there a "right"? Create a "farm" that represents the things that motivate you to learn and grow as a person. Why? Screenplay written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. For Part 5, to read the Dialogue discussion go here. To download a PDF of the breakdown , go here. Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. 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." * The water stops: You can't have a farm w/o access to water, so while this may not be as dramatic visually, it certainly up the stakes and odds against the family's success with the farm. Much of the movie has subtitles, so if you have students that can benefit from ita simple transcriptand the full screenplay are both available. You can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. Why does Jacob mention that he's the eldest son? The plot changes gears following the introduction of Monicas mother Soon-ja and her limitless optimism. 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. And an interesting exploration of two subcultures: Korean home life and the rural south. Before coming to Common Sense, she helped create ELA curriculum for a K-12 app and taught the youth of America as a high school teacher, a community college teacher, a tutor, and a special education instructional aide for about 18 years. Lee Isaac Chung that happens in Minari, Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful quot. It follows a Korean family starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas miss food! Important to be useful a `` farm '' that represents the things that you. Below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari, &. And Monica soon follows as kids, what does is tracking the arc of key characters Clip 4... 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