By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Lee Isaac Chung planned to be a doctor but changed his mind during his senior year at Yale University and opted instead to pursue filmmaking at the University of Utah.
His 2007 debut film was
“Munyurangabo,” a well-received drama about the Rwandan Genocide. It was followed by “Lucky Life” (2010) and “Abigal Harm” (2012).
However, Chung’s latest movie,
“Minari” which he wrote and directed, is garnering major attention. It has earned a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Foreign Language Film” and 10 Critics Choice Award nominations including: “Best Picture,” “Best Director” and “Best Original Screenplay.”
“Minari” is a touching drama about a Korean American family that decides to spread their wings for greener pastures and move from California to Arkansas. Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun, TV’s “The Walking Dead”) has big plans for his wife Monica (Yeri Han, TV’s “My Unfamiliar Family”), daughter Anne (Noel Cho) and his adorable and “good-looking” son, David (Alan S. Kim). Jacob wants to live the American Dream by purchasing a lot of land, growing Korean produce, and cashing in by selling it to stores. The plan must work for Jacob and Monica because they definitely don’t want to go back to their days of working in a chicken factory.
Things get off to a rocky start particularly when Monica realizes they will be living in a trailer home. She’s not happy about it and she and Jacob are constantly arguing about that and most everything else related to this move.
Their house on wheels becomes even more cramped when Jacob invites Monica’s mother Soonja (a funny and scene-stealing Yuh-Jung Youn, “Beasts Clawing at Straws”) to live with them. Soonja upsets the family dynamic and David—who suffers from a heart ailment--doesn’t want Soonja around at all especially since she’s sharing his room. He gets even with her for calling him “pee-pee boy.”
Jacob and the family encounter several setbacks along the way, notably David’s health scare and a severely damaged water main that spells trouble for their crops. Should they trust the overzealous religious farmhand (Will Patton, TV’s “Yellowstone”) to help them salvage their land?
When faced with their biggest tragedy, they put aside their differences and discover the real meaning and importance of family at all costs.
“Minari” is a delightful movie with plenty of heart, hope and inspiration.
In addition to opening in limited theaters
Feb. 12, "Minari" will be available
On-Demand Feb. 26
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"MINARI"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
