What do you think about the tension between Jacob's approach and the dowser's approach? Minari is wonderful, wonderful!". And who is even included in this fantasy of America? Importantly, theyll return to this after the movie and reflect on it. If you had to take a side, whose side would you take? Understand the influences of organizations and systems of behavior. It speaks to the very human threads of hope, struggles, and perseverance. (35:37-37:58), Clip #8: The family goes to church, and people there react in various ways to them being Korean. 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. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. For Monica, his decision comes as an ultimate betrayal. 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 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. Uh, You Havent Seen Austin Butlers Elvis Yet?! 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. Why? But the well he digs there soon runs dry, and he has no choice but to use county water, which means that the family now has to pay for another thing that they cant afford. Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? 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. Bruder's book called attention to the economic ruthlessness of the Amazon setup, and the effect of the toil on older employees; Zhao is more focussed on Fern, as she greets her fellow-drones at . We're about to get into spoilers from the movie, so if you haven't watched it yet, read no further! Content warning: There are a few scenes to be aware of before you show the movie. Support students' learning, and find the best video streaming sites for schools and classrooms. As kids, what do moments like this mean about our understanding of the world and how it works? I love me a good line and this one had some really touching one. Meanwhile, grandma Soonja (Youn Yuh-jung) faces a trash fire that becomes uncontrollable. Monica being around also shows she is now actively supporting Jacobs dream and participating in the farm dream. Much of the movie has subtitles, so if you have students that can benefit from ita simple transcriptand the full screenplay are both available. -- can shift one's priorities? Why does the movie end with Jacob commenting on the minari, and why is it the title of the movie? He has spent a decade as a sexer and strives to find something more rewarding to do than that job. What are some examples to support your idea? Promotions, new products and sales. Specifically how our choices are influenced by our character traits, values, and virtues. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. For Part 5, to read the Dialogue discussion go here. (25:49-27:39), Clip #5: Grandma (Soonja) arrives, and David is unsure about her. But I kept thinking about how Minari is being marketed and wondered, Is this really a story about the American dream? As you say, it *does* feel like a "conventional narrative movie," and one thing it suggests at the script stage (I have yet to see the movie) is it has powerful emotions running through: A man with a dream. Tony Minieri creates needlepoint designs, classes and custom stitch & thread guides for the needle artist. But the main source of conflict is not the immigration from the native country but the relocation from California. "Minari" 's style is a disheartening example of the gravitational pull that such conventions exert on the cinema at large. 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. (25:49-27:39), Clip #5: Grandma (Soonja) arrives, and David is unsure about her. Combine that with their ever-increasing financial woes and Davids heart problems, and you have a recipe for a disintegrating family. You know your classroom and community norms best -- use your professional judgement to decide how you'll address these, if necessary. The mother, Monica (Yeri Han), would rather be in California. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? If you haven't seen Minari yet, queue this one for your next movie night. You can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. 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. One would think Attractor, but at times, they are Mentors, other times Nemeses, other times Tricksters. Why? EVENT DATES & TIMES: Virtual screening: Saturday, May 15 between 6-10pm PST Post-movie discussion: Wednesday, May 19 from 4-5pm PST REGISTRATION Tickets are SOLD OUT. How do our roles in a family sometimes create expectations for us? But as the film progresses, a poignant bond develops between the two. (1:02:06-1:03:57), Clip #11: After David gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is. For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here. Students will also reflect on how their own sense of identity has developed within their family and community -- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. Jacob then gets more good news when the grocery store owner agrees to have Jacob be his produce supplier. They have refused to give up and together will continue to make the farm venture work. If you only have a single class period, showing just a few key clips below might be perfect. How does Cather bring the novel full circle, mirroring Jim's observation, "What a little circle man's experience is"? Older Post Jacob sees the minari and says, It's growing well on its own." But we can discuss that further in Part 3: Characters. There's a ton of SEL content to work with here. What do you think Jacob is feeling as he talks to David about the farm? Create something -- a piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc. Demonstrate personal and collective agency. But thats too much for one film, one director, and one story to bear. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. It could be a sculpture or diorama, a drawing, a poem that describes it, or a virtual one (using Minecraft, etc.). Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. To her surprise and horror, he picks the latter. Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones. It is hard not to crave the diversity of Asian American life. It feels like one of those stories where character archetypes may be of some value in analyzing the story, but not of central importance. Here are some useful distinctions: Research objectives: Sometimes called "research questions," research objectives represent the goals of the research. 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. She says American kids don't like sharing their room and Monica says, "He's a Korean kid." The movie, partially based on Chungs life, is set in the 1980s. What unies the narrative? She embraces her new life with a certain childlike wonder that is absent even in Jacob. One theme I take away from "Minari" is strength, specifically the perseverance people demonstrate in the face of hardship. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. She brings with her the old countrys values and beliefs and rejects the perpetual fear that her daughter and Jacob feel about Davids health. Step 2: Insert your questions for each topic. He also explained that minari has a purifying effect and clears poor soil and water. Is there a "right"? To access over 90 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here. Hand out the graphic organizer and give students a few minutes to complete the Before You Watch question. 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. Why does the movie end with Jacob commenting on the minari, and why is it the title of the movie? While Jacob, Monica, and the children are heading to the car, Jacob gleefully talks about how this deal came at the best time. So anyone can pick and eat it. Despite one challenge after another which pushes Jacob and Monica's relationship to the brink of dissolution, they persist. Who's right? Depending on what's best for your class, have students work in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. Importantly, theyll return to this after the movie and reflect on it. They will facilitate the . But we see, at the end, he is going to try again. This week is our discussion about the film, Minari: "A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. Monica still wants to leave Jacob, and then all the produce is destroyed. By Richard Lawson February 22, 2021 Writer-director. Jacob and Monica fight as the kids make paper airplanes with the message "Don't fight!" How do priorities seem to shift during the fire? 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 discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Chung wanted to make a particular story, not a universal story. And yet, eventually, he manages to discard that obsession at the right time. 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. Screenplay written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Cookie Notice For Part 3, to read the Character discussion, go here. 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. Why? Anne is a quiet force in the movie, taking care of David and trying to make things easier for her parents. When the kids on the bus make fun of Paul because he doesn't have water at his house, David realizes that's true about his family, too. To show you how a discussion guide is constructed, i've broken down a two hour interview into a simple guide. In a sense, the marketing for the film makes sense. Create something -- a piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc. And it ultimately improves things for David, whom his parents have always kept under constant supervision because of his heart condition. Minari movie is now available on PVOD and there has been much talked about this one being nominated for some awards this year. In her last scene, Soon-ja sits wide awake, watching the Yis sleep on the floor together. -- can shift one's priorities? Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. (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! That is, their Attractor function doesn't change overall, rather they don a mentor, nemesis, or trickster mask from time to time to fit where they are emotionally and support their goal at that time. Chung has spoken in many interviews, especially in the Reset interview, about creating a personal story that would leave a legacy for his daughter, but he also wanted a story that everyone saw themselves and got out of it different things. Students will also reflect on howtheir ownsense of identity has developed within their family and community-- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. Heres how it works. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, "Minari" explores the experience of 1980s America for one Korean American family. Identify their personal, cultural, and linguistic assets. On the church bus, kids joke about Paul not having water. * 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. Thinking back on the movie, is there one scene thats particularly memorable? Warning! 'Minari' is about immigrants who speak Korean. "Minari is truly the best. Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? 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. Do you think this scene would look different today? Here are my takeaways via each days discussion. choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. But Minari, a film made by an American, produced by an American company, and cast with American actors, was still placed in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Golden Globes. (4/5 stars) Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung. and our Why? The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. 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. She lets him know that she can no longer be with him. Minari is a story of the American Dream. 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? 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? (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. You can use these additional prompts (which don't appear on the student handout) to guide students in a writing project or a more comprehensive discussion about the movie's major themes. It's a specific instrument. Jacob explains that the male chicks are discarded, so it's important to be useful. They frame the overall domain of insights you hope to uncover. This year also saw the highest number of nominations that went to women across the top . 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. (35:37-37:58), Clip #8: The family goes to church, and people there react in various ways to them being Korean. 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? Monica explains that her mom has no other family because her father died in the war. Topics: Minari is a semi-autobiographical drama film about a Korean-American family growing up in rural Arkansas during the nineteen-eighties. It's accessible to 9th graders but can also sparkmore nuanced conversations for 12 graders. In some ways, todays exercise is the whole point of the series: What did you take away from the experience of reading and analyzing the script? Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. Tricksters can also act as allies and that is an example of such a moment. Content warning: There are a few scenes to be aware of before you show the movie. Is Soonja what you expected? 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 . When his grandmother calls him a "pretty boy," he reacts defensively. In an interview with Deadline, Chung also added how minari doesnt start to thrive until its second season. 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. Plot summary: A Korean family starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas. Thats because something momentous is happening when one more, in just a handful of Asian American narratives, is released. Is there a "right"? Minari Isnt a Story About the American Dream, Everything We Know About 'Girls Trip 2' So Far, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Do you agree with her? Step 3: Write instructions for any user activities. And the fire is completely a Trickster type of thing. Step 5: Test your discussion guide with a colleague. Why or why not? Jacob faces many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make the farm work, only to lose the crop in the fire. I hear the American dream thrown around a lot [about Minari], and that could mean all kinds of things that I was intentionally not getting into with the movie.. Can you think of a situation where you make your voice heard even though you can't really change what's happening? This affects his productivity at the local hatchery, where both he and Monica work. Description. 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. Lists with This Book This book is not yet featured on Listopia. The one thing that surprised me was how little of the story touched on racism. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. Throughout Minari, hes been telling his grandma to go, but hes finally embraced her and wants her around. That makes it seem like that dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know thats just not true. Like minari, the family has finally and fully adapted to their new surroundings while maintaining the morsels of individuality that set them apart. When Jacob gets the idea that he can move away from the fields of California to grow Korean vegetables to an increasing number of Korean immigrants living in America's Heartland, he . Minari Film Discussion, March 11, 2021. Synopsis 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. Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. Minari won the 2021 Academy Award for best Actress in Supporting Role.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. The film willresonate particularly with students whose households have deep connections to countries other than the one in which they reside. Many people who watch Minari will be blown away by this quiet family epic about the American dream and all the struggles and triumphs that come with it. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Beyond the snake, what does Soonja mean about things that hide? What do you think is the significance of Jacob hiring a dowser? Or perhaps better to think of them as you portray them: Characters evolving from one type of relationship with David to another. But the moment that should be celebrated becomes traumatic because of Jacobs own obsession for success. In a recent roundtable of Asian American directors in the .css-tjvzc4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;border-bottom:thin solid #6F6F6F;}.css-tjvzc4:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}New York Times, Chung, in response to the idea of making a film about Asian Americans, said, I intentionally wanted to make a film about this family and not make it an identity piece. Here is everything you need to know about the films ending. 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. This movie is set in the '80s. Later, Anne asks David if he wants to live with mom or dad. Life in Arkansas is far from what Jacob and his wife Monica (Yeri Han) hoped. Why? Why do you think big events -- like birth, illness, death, a pandemic, etc. How would you describe the behavior of the people at church toward the Yi family? When the Yi family arrives, Jacob rushes to the barn to try to stop it, then he tries to save some of his produce. What do you think is the significance of Jacob hiring a dowser? 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. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. 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. 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. SPOILERS AHEAD. This is a story that many can connect to because its the story of the American dream. Minari is a leafy green vegetable ( sometimes called water celery or water dropwort) popular in Korean cooking. 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. For Part 5, to read the Dialogue discussion go here. Why does his grandma telling him he's a "strong boy" contradict the identity he's used to? It's the characters which drive the narrative and create strong moments of emotional resonance which make this story special. 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Participating in the fire until its second season do you think this scene would look different today fire is a. ' learning, and why characters in Minari act the way they do your... For any user activities the title of the American dream are influenced by our character traits values!