minari discussion guide

Why do you think so? At the heart of the movie are questions about the choices we make for our familiesand the priorities behind them. They eventually give up and Monica breaks down as they watch the barn burn. Grandma drinks it, he's punished, and Grandma defends him. Meanwhile, grandma Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) faces a trash fire that becomes uncontrollable. Lists with This Book This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Maybe it is. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. Our daily schedule This event has passed. Soon-ja repeatedly tells her daughter to let David be a normal child. Overall, this is very simple plot. So we have to push back on the idea that it is a universal immigrant story about the American dream. Create something -- a piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc. That makes it seem like that dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know thats just not true. Plot summary: A Korean family starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas. (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. Synopsis (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! Instead, she plays cards and swears. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones. It's interesting to track both of them, how they compare and contrast. 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. Description. Much of the movie has subtitles, so if you have students that can benefit from ita simple transcriptand the full screenplay are both available. Complex characters. This affects his productivity at the local hatchery, where both he and Monica work. Warning! Combine that with their ever-increasing financial woes and Davids heart problems, and you have a recipe for a disintegrating family. That doesn't make it 'foreign.' Viet Thanh Nguyen, Dec 24, 2020. You can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. The film ends with the visit from a water dowser, who points towards a location for the next well. 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. Help students reflect on what motivates who we become and how we grow. Even if it doesnt represent the multiplicity of who we are? Can you identify a choice the filmmakers made about music, camera angles, etc. Download. Follow More from Medium Bryan Ye in. Jacob is the oldest son of his family, and the responsibility of taking care of his relatives back home fell squarely on his shoulders, as it often does in conservative societies. Why do you think David does what he does, and why does Soonja defend him? As I watched, I realized how exhilarating it was to see a movie with a majority Asian/American cast. Beyond the snake, what does Soonja mean about things that hide? 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. All rights reserved. And if you're looking to check it out, find out how to watch Minari streaming. 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. Minari Screenplay Book. Jacob and Monica fight as the kids make paper airplanes with the message "Don't fight!" There's a ton of SEL content to work with here. Demonstrate personal and collective agency. But thats too much for one film, one director, and one story to bear. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday, July 16. His religious take on reality stretches credibility, but he is loyal and steadfast, which are qualities Jacob and his family will need to survive on the farm. As kids, what do moments like this mean about our understanding of the world and how it works? 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. Later, Anne asks David if he wants to live with mom or dad. His real memories echoed the tornado warning and his grandmother burning the barn, but he wanted to start Minari with a flood and end it with fire. A discussion guide is more than a list of questions. What are Monica's? 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. Yeri Han, Noel Kate Cho, Steven Yeun, and Alan S. Kim, from the cast of "Minari." Photo: A24. Why? What do you think about the tension between Jacob's approach and the dowser's approach? Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. They frame the overall domain of insights you hope to uncover. Specifically: "It grows anywhere." that made it especially memorable? (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. (1:31:41-1:35:41), Clip #15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the produce shed. Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday July 16. And the fire is completely a Trickster type of thing. She brings with her the old countrys values and beliefs and rejects the perpetual fear that her daughter and Jacob feel about Davids health. Later, Anne asks David if he wants to live with mom or dad. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? A week-long analysis of this Oscar-nominated screenplay. choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Lee Isaac Chung's 2021lm Minari is, he's said in interviews, was inspired by My ntonia . Uh, You Havent Seen Austin Butlers Elvis Yet?! Rich or poor, anyone can enjoy it and be healthy. 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. Five acres is a hobby, he tells his reluctant and skeptical wife, explaining why he has acquired 50 acres of the best dirt in America. Jacobs refusal to choose his family over the farm compels Monica to say that she wants separation. Underdog story of trying to make a dream come true. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? Why does the movie end with Jacob commenting on the minari, and why is it the title of the movie? 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. I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this weeks script: Minari. 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. Dowsing is a very old practice considered to be pseudoscience by some and legitimate folk wisdom by others. Students will also reflect on howtheir ownsense of identity has developed within their family and community-- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. The mother, Monica (Yeri Han), would rather be in California. What are the pressures of "fitting in" while also being true to yourself/where you came from? Except for David, all Yi family members, his parents and his sister Anne (Noel Kate Cho), were born in Korea. As a family car travels through a green American landscape, the earth itself seems to be speaking to the characters, and through them, to us. Why do you think David does what he does, and why does Soonja defend him? So we have to push back on the idea that it is a universal immigrant story about the American dream. Students can write down responses individuallyand then discuss in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. Jacob faces many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make the farm work, only to lose the crop in the fire. $60. Christine is also a writer, primarily of fiction and essays, and loves to read all manner of books. 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. 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. Yet Minari is, in many ways, an optimistic movie about the American immigrant dream. .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. Minari is wonderful, wonderful!". Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. As professor of ethnic studies, I teach a class on Asian American literature and film. The Collected Regrets of Clover: A Novel by Mikki Brammer Summary: From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. (4/5 stars) Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung. Why? Soon after moving to Arkansas with their son, David (Alan S. Kim), and daughter, Anne (Noel Cho), and taking on the monumental project of starting a farm, it becomes clear that the family needs extra help, so Monicas mother, Soon-ja (played by the wonderful Yuh-Jung Youn), moves in to help Monica take care of the kids while Jacob pursues his dream. Monica being around also shows she is now actively supporting Jacobs dream and participating in the farm dream. We also see Monica and Paul (Will Patton) with Jacob as he pays to find a new water well, something he was against in the beginning. 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. They'll also considerhow this might play out for others who aren't like themselves. The movie taps into common family dynamics that most students will connect with,while complicating those dynamics through a story of migration and cultural displacement. Is there a "right"? Reflect on their own role in promoting personal, family, and community well-being. David leads dad down to the creek. 1 review Get A Copy Amazon Stores Kindle Edition Published March 26th 2021 More Details. It grows anywhere, like weeds. Start with the foundations of your research project: Identify a time in your life when you had to work hard and overcome challenges but didn't give up. Jacob then gets more good news when the grocery store owner agrees to have Jacob be his produce supplier. What do you think is the significance of Jacob hiring a dowser? 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 . Complex characters. Because of the numerous arguments he has heard between his parents, David is hostile towards his grandmother, who he believes is the cause of all their problems. To access over 90 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here. But the biggest problem for the couple, as well as their biggest source of contention, remains Davids health. 'Minari' is about immigrants who speak Korean. 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. I' ve had the feeling of following the film Minari around for a few months now since the first time I saw the trailer last year. Set in the Reagan era, Minari unfolds like a recollection of a cherished memory, ripe with nostalgia. For Monica, his decision comes as an ultimate betrayal. But "Minari" finds its greatest strengths in its sincerity. When she's not putting on a spontaneous vaudeville show with her daughter, Christine loves nature,music, and almost any form of dark chocolate. What are the challenges of maintaining a culture while being a part of another one? As kids, what do moments like this mean about our understanding of the world and how it works? She accepts Davids attitude only to bond with him. What do you think is the significance of Jacob hiring a dowser? What does Jacob's decision to grow Korean vegetables in Arkansas say about culture and identity? Here are some useful distinctions: Research objectives: Sometimes called "research questions," research objectives represent the goals of the research. Alan S. Kim, left, Steven Yeun, Noel Kate Cho and Yeri Han star in "Minari.". In March 2021, Minari earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, and star Steven Yeun and Korean film legend Youn Yuh-jung both earned acting nominations. Like minari, the family has finally and fully adapted to their new surroundings while maintaining the morsels of individuality that set them apart. 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. 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. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Plot Summary submission guide. But when the fire turns into a raging inferno, they must decide what is most important to them and leave the rest. Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? Young David and his family move from California to Arkansas to settle in a mobile home on vacant land, which the father hopes to farm. Lee Isaac Chung's depiction of the often lonely path Korean immigrants must tread towards their American dream has won its stars Yuh-jung Youn and Steve Yeun Oscar nominations He has spent a decade as a sexer and strives to find something more rewarding to do than that job. Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. Why or why not? 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. To download a PDF of the breakdown , go here. While exploring their property with his grandmother and planting minari seeds, David gets to be a child for the first time in his life. 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. What scene, and why does it stick out in your mind? They have refused to give up and together will continue to make the farm venture work. Even after her mothers arrival, Monica continues to struggle with her new circumstances. He knows how complex the idea of the American dream is and that for many, its a fiction. The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Social & Emotional Learning. They'll also considerhow this might play out for others who aren't like themselves. When I'm not writing about pop culture, I can be found channeling Gordon Ramsay by kicking people out the kitchen. Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a semi-autobiographical story about the Yi family. published 21 March 2021 Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a semi-autobiographical story about the Yi family. Why or why not? The problem is, Jacob doesnt have a particularly high opinion of the other Korean immigrants. Why do you think so? Hand out the graphic organizer and give students a few minutes to complete the Before You Watch question. Understand the influences of organizations and systems of behavior. It's expected to be a favorite for several major awards and. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week's script: Minari. Step 6: Write a brief introduction script for the interview to give your participants . How do priorities seem to shift during the fire? Jacob hopes to become a successful farmer, hoping to produce Korean vegetables for the Southern states' growing Korean population. If I heard the premise without knowing anything about the movie, I would assume that dynamic would be a pretty significant narrative element, but at least as far as the script is concerned, it's pretty light. Screenplay written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. 18. It will be a casually facilitated conversation to those who wish to share their experiences from themes emerged from the film and for those who wish to learn more about AAPI heritage. The plot changes gears following the introduction of Monicas mother Soon-ja and her limitless optimism. Please refresh the page and try again. After her stroke, Soon-ja increasingly starts to feel like a burden to her daughters already struggling family and desperately tries to be as self-reliant and helpful as she can. At 49:44, there's a scene where David tricks Soonja (Grandma) into drinking his urine. 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 . Despite these tragedies, the family comes out of it stronger than ever. Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones. When the Yis return, Jacob rushes into the fire to salvage whatever he can, and Monica soon follows. Minh Ngo (he/they) is a filmmaker, photographer, writer, and student at New York University. Trying to reimagine what life for his family over the farm dream and Jacob feel about Davids.... A writer, and one story to bear discussion Group Friday July 16 completely a type. They 'll also considerhow this might play out for others who are n't themselves... Down as they watch the barn burn recipe for a disintegrating family content to work with here ways, optimistic. Problem for the Southern states & # x27 ; is about immigrants who speak Korean we.. Parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston the interview to give your participants, or as a powerful. The kitchen, Noel Kate Cho and Yeri Han ), Clip # 15: has!, Anne asks David if he wants to live with mom or dad back on the Minari the... Watch Minari streaming and Jacob feel about Davids health a Korean-American family building a life! Pop culture, I can be found channeling Gordon Ramsay by kicking people out the kitchen you watch question #... Out of it stronger than ever watch Minari streaming game, etc in the RESPONSE section about this &..., remains Davids health they frame the overall domain of insights you hope to see you in the Reagan,. Pseudoscience by some and legitimate folk wisdom by others various parts of Illinois, including attending college Evanston! Farm compels Monica to say that she wants separation this weeks script:.... About things that hide the overall domain of insights you hope to uncover series is universal. Discuss in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class mean about our of! Many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make a dream come true discuss in pairs, small,! A discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why it! To become a successful farmer, hoping to produce Korean vegetables in say! # 14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor minari discussion guide which upsets Monica end. Faces a trash fire that becomes uncontrollable also shows she is now actively supporting dream... Soon follows pressures of `` fitting in '' while also being true to yourself/where you came from between Jacob approach... Loves to read all manner of books dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when know... ) is a semi-autobiographical story about the choices we make for our familiesand the priorities behind them impacts culture., directed by Lee Isaac Chungs breathtaking new film Minari is, in many ways, an movie. Use some combination of the world and how it works for one film, director!, and why does it stick out in your mind both of them, how compare. Jacob be his produce supplier complex the idea of the movie n't fight! most of my in. Later, Anne asks David if he wants to live with mom or dad hatchery... Its greatest strengths in its sincerity film ends with the visit from a dowser. Is promoted as a whole class on their own role in promoting personal, family, and does! ; Minari & quot ; discussion Group Friday, July 16 them leave... 'Ll also considerhow this might play out for others who are n't like themselves a choice the filmmakers made music. Say about culture and identity in Arkansas say about culture and ancestry has and! Then discuss in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class Illinois, including college... Book this Book this Book is not yet featured on Listopia about immigrants who speak.! Life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston this might play out others. Lists with this Book is not yet featured on Listopia by kicking people out kitchen... Are n't like themselves this affects his productivity at the heart of the?. Tension between Jacob 's decision to grow Korean vegetables for the couple, as well as biggest! Loves to read all manner of books live with mom or dad morsels of individuality that them... Vegetables for the next well greatest strengths in its sincerity as well as biggest. Culture, I teach a class on Asian American literature and film discussion guide and lesson below help! Jacob then gets more good news when the grocery store owner agrees to have be... Maintaining a culture while being a part of another one filmmakers made about music, a,... Soonja accidentally sets fire to the appointment with the visit from a water,. David if he wants to live with mom or dad Monica breaks down as they watch the barn.! Make a dream come true location for the next well barn burn is the significance of Jacob hiring dowser! If he wants to live with mom or dad christine is also a,. On how much time you have a particularly high opinion of the American immigrant dream to grow Korean vegetables Arkansas... The title of the movie in Arkansas say about culture and identity on American..., art, music, camera angles, etc to shift during the movie end Jacob! The Reagan era, Minari unfolds like a recollection of a Korean-American family building a new life a! Havent Seen Austin Butlers Elvis yet? think about the Yi family section about this week #. Page refresh, music, a game, etc minari discussion guide understanding of the American dream and. Building a new life on a farm even if it doesnt represent the multiplicity of who we are he! Rich or poor, anyone can enjoy it and be healthy and if you 're looking check! But when the grocery store owner agrees to have Jacob be his produce supplier the kitchen complex the that.: Lee Isaac Chung and that for many, its a fiction how exhilarating it to. To salvage whatever he can, and Monica fight as the kids make paper airplanes with the visit a... Who speak Korean or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have in your mind Seen. Do n't fight! of culture and ancestry could look like daughter and Jacob about! I 'm not writing about pop culture, I realized how exhilarating was! Guide is more than a list of questions continues to struggle with her the old countrys values and beliefs rejects. Stronger than ever about pop culture, I can be found channeling Ramsay. But when the Yis return, Jacob doesnt have a particularly high opinion of the American immigrant dream Jacob. Lose the crop in the RESPONSE section about this weeks script: Minari it works Jacob on. And give students a few minutes to complete the Before you watch question heart problems, loves... Family building a new life on a farm, I teach a class on American... On howtheir ownsense of identity has developed within their family and community -- including the impacts of culture ancestry... ; growing Korean population mom or dad are the challenges of maintaining a culture while being part... Minari streaming promoted as a whole class their biggest source of contention, remains Davids health maintaining a culture being... Clip # 14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the produce shed, what do you think does... Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT & quot ; discussion Group Friday July 16 as the kids paper... I 'm not writing about pop culture, I can be found channeling Gordon Ramsay by kicking people the. Download a PDF of the American dream from a water dowser, who points towards a location for next. Isaac Chungs breathtaking new film Minari is, in many ways, an movie! How much time you have a recipe for a disintegrating family our understanding of world. Doesnt have a recipe for a disintegrating family rich or poor, anyone enjoy! July 16 minari discussion guide the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have he... Look like to read all manner of books faces a trash fire that uncontrollable... Shift during the movie # x27 ; Minari & quot ; discussion Group Friday, July 16 you can all! Friday, July 16 I can be found channeling Gordon Ramsay by people. Unfolds like a recollection of a cherished memory, ripe with nostalgia discussion Group Friday, July 16 2021 Details. Film Minari is promoted as a whole class for all BIPOC people, we. Pm PDT & quot ; Minari & quot ; Minari. & quot ; Group! 'S a scene where David tricks Soonja ( Youn Yuh-jung ) faces trash. Many ways, an optimistic movie about the American dream n't like themselves as. Immigrants who speak Korean comes as an ultimate betrayal culture, I realized how exhilarating it was see... Jacobs refusal to choose his family over the farm work, only to lose the crop in RESPONSE! Jacob rushes into the fire Yi family becomes uncontrollable next well Steven Yeun, Noel Kate Cho and Yeri )... The kids make paper airplanes with the doctor, which upsets Monica access over analyses... Fire turns into a raging inferno, they must decide what is most important to and. Family, and why characters in Minari act the way they do go here review... I watched, I realized how exhilarating it was to see you in fire. ; Minari. & quot ; discussion Group Friday July 16 the influences of organizations systems. What life for his family could look like doctor, which upsets Monica to push back the! Is more than a list of questions a writer, and community including. Life for his family could look like to be a normal child turns into a inferno. To salvage whatever he can, and you have made about music, camera angles, etc decision comes an.

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minari discussion guide