'Minari' is the name of a Korean herb for those who were wondering, and it grows best near water, which is kind of a metaphor. The film is about a first generation Korean American family who relocate from the west cost to Arkansas in the mid 80's. Jacob and Monica Yi (Steven Yeun and Han Ye-ri ) are both Chicken Sexers, meaning they are skilled at swiftly determining the sex of baby chicks, an important job at hatcheries. The move is inspired by Jacob's dream of eventually running his own farm, or garden as he calls it. Monica is not so sure but want's to support her husband, however concern about their seven year old son's heart condition, and her desire to be near more Koreans put some strain on the marriage.
Eventually Monica's widowed mother is sent for from Korea, however she likes to play cards and swear so that seven year old David (Alan Kim) concludes that she is not "a real grandmother". Going in I was expecting the Yi's to suffer the undue prejudices of their neighbors, however everyone seems to treat them real well. Of course there is the odd cultural misunderstanding, the Yi's employ a Pentecostal Korean War vet named Paul (Will Patton, possible best supporting actor Oscar contender) to help them around the farm, and it takes them awhile to know what to make of him.
'Minari' is principally about family dynamics, and the push and pull of a marriage. Slow and meditative it builds to an especially strong final third. I love a film that shows me something I haven't seen before, and I haven't seen this. One of last years best. ****
(Chick sexing: Method of distinguishing the sex of chickens and other hatchlings), but they move in puriset
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