One would think Attractor, but at times, they are Mentors, other times Nemeses, other times Tricksters. Yeri Han, Noel Kate Cho, Steven Yeun, and Alan S. Kim, from the cast of "Minari." Photo: A24. Can you identify a choice the filmmakers made about music, camera angles, etc. The kids go to church so they can call their mother. 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. Our daily schedule: Monday: Scene-By-Scene BreakdownTuesday: PlotWednesday: CharactersThursday: ThemesFriday: DialogueSaturday: Takeaways. Do you think this is a positive or negative thing? Clip #1: Jacob explains how the male chicks are "discarded," and that means it's important to be useful. Anne is a quiet force in the movie, taking care of David and trying to make things easier for her parents. Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. Older Post As in the film, it grows rampant along the banks of streams and over damp ground, requiring little attention. Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones. Synopsis 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. Besides learning that his son will be alright, he has managed to secure a buyer in Oklahoma City for his vegetables. Is there a "right"? "Minari, Minari, Wonderful, Wonderful". 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. I suppose, too, the tiny subplot of the minari plants echoes this theme, how Soon-ja plants the seeds and despite everything that goes on, they grow in their spot by the river. (1:31:41-1:35:41), Clip #15: Soonja accidentally sets fire to the produce shed. What does Jacob's decision to grow Korean vegetables in Arkansas say about culture and identity? Develop interests and a sense of purpose. How to Watch All Quiet on the Western Front. Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. It could be something that only happened inside of yourself. Jacob, Monica, David (Alan S. Kim), and Anne (Noel Cho) receive good news when a cardiologist lets the family know that Davids heart murmur will likely heal on its own. For Part 4, to read the Themes discussion go here. Minh Ngo (he/they) is a filmmaker, photographer, writer, and student at New York University. 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. Do you think this scene would look different today? 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. Director Lee Isaac Chung Writer Lee Isaac Chung Stars Steven Yeun Yeri Han Alan Kim See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video rent/buy from $3.99 .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. At the beginning of the film, the family was completely against this notion, with Anne commenting that Jacob snores. (42:44-49:43), Clip #9: David dumps out his tea and urinates in the cup. Create something that gives this person a proper shout out. Later, Anne asks David if he wants to live with mom or dad. The movie, partially based on Chungs life, is set in the 1980s. #1: Define goals, research questions and hypotheses with stakeholders. (1:38:26-end). This event has passed. When his grandmother calls him a "pretty boy," he reacts defensively. The kids go to church so they can call their mother. Is she what David expected? 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. (49:44-55:13), Clip #10: After Jacob learns a deal fell through with a Korean business owner, there's a shot of the smoke stack for "discarded" useless male chicks. 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. 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. Students can write down responses individuallyand then discuss in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. 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. Depending on what's best for your class, have students work in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. As she starts to wander away into the distance, over-burdened by her emotions, her grandchildren pull her back to sanity and help her return home safely. Theres so much more to it than that. It's expected to be a favorite for several major awards and. They'll also considerhow this might play out for others who aren't like themselves. Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. Importantly, theyll return to this after the movie and reflect on it. 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. Common Sense Media. 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. The plant serves as a metaphor for the Yi familys struggles to adapt to their new life and the day-to-day challenges they encounter. We also see Jacob possibly understanding Monica better when she also tries to save the produce. Anticipate and evaluate the consequences of theiractions. Can you identify a choice the filmmakers made about music, camera angles, etc. For Part 5, to read the Dialogue discussion go here. Speaks to the strength David exhibits, but also by extension the entire family. Even after her mothers arrival, Monica continues to struggle with her new circumstances. And an interesting exploration of two subcultures: Korean home life and the rural south. Jacob (Steven Yeun) moves his family from a comfortable life in California to a small town in Arkansas. Jacob relies on knowledge and planning, so dismisses the dowser. Discuss. Why? The creek water provides the family with water when Jacob has used it all up for his crops. In the meantime, I am sharing some of the best and most heartwarming quotes from the film. This movie is set in the '80s. Promotions, new products and sales. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. 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. So we have to push back on the idea that it is a universal immigrant story about the American dream. Though she's not avery dynamiccharacter, she plays a huge role in holding everything together. Both Jacob and Monica have to work sexing chicks in order to provide for the family while they wait for that dream to come to fruition. Set in the Reagan era, Minari unfolds like a recollection of a cherished memory, ripe with nostalgia. Around 1:19:00, some kids use chewing tobacco. What are Monica's? David expects his grandmother to be able to bake cookies. 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. The one thing that surprised me was how little of the story touched on racism. (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. In an interview with Cinemablend, various cast and director Chung spoke about how minari is special because its a plant that thrives even in rough soil. 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. 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? Beyond the tornado, why is she angry? The dramatic elements of "Minari" make it a powerful film. Not all Koreans have experienced immigration, but Minari will be able to resonate with all of us because it reminds us of our own childhood memories and families. After living in America for a few years, sexing chickens for below minimum wage, the family decides to pack their bags and head from California to Arkansas to start a farm. 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. 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. Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. Specifically how our choices are influenced by our character traits, values, and virtues. 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. Why? Monica still wants to leave Jacob, and then all the produce is destroyed. Identify their personal, cultural, and linguistic assets. Step 5: Test your discussion guide with a colleague. 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. In the Minari ending, Jacob and Monica are now working together to get the farm up and running. Dowsing is a very old practice considered to be pseudoscience by some and legitimate folk wisdom by others. Download. How does Cather bring the novel full circle, mirroring Jim's observation, "What a little circle man's experience is"? Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday July 16. Jacob (Steven Yeun) moves his family from a comfortable life in California to a. This affects his productivity at the local hatchery, where both he and Monica work. What do you think is the significance of Jacob hiring a dowser? 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. What are the challenges of maintaining a culture while being a part of another one? Minor spoilers ahead for Minari.. Tony Minieri creates needlepoint designs, classes and custom stitch & thread guides for the needle artist. In their efforts to connect with the new neighbors, the Yis become a part of the local church and almost inevitably encounters casual racism, admittedly stemming from ignorance rather than malice. The book has little in the way of a conventional plot, but it still forms a cohesive whole. 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. "Minari" 's style is a disheartening example of the gravitational pull that such conventions exert on the cinema at large. Show the entire film with a more in-depth lesson plan and. Social & Emotional Learning. Chung based the film on what he remembers . Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a semi-autobiographical story about the Yi family. Its a surreal moment of contradictory emotions for Jacob. Follow More from Medium Bryan Ye in. We see David really run for the first time because hes no longer burdened by the heart murmur and he wants to stop his grandma from leaving. Start by introducing the movie and give students some context as to why its worth thinking more deeply about. 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. Recognize situational demands and opportunities. 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. 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. But we can discuss that further in Part 3: Characters. But we see, at the end, he is going to try again. Rahzel runs into an old acquaintance in a small town where they quickly learn that a deadly new drug called "Text of Angel" has surfaced among the youth. Table of Contents Simulating Student Interest Focusing on Empathic Reactions Characterization Plot Themes, Messages & Ideas Other Literary Elements Theatrical Devices and Effects 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. What are the pressures of "fitting in" while also being true to yourself/where you came from? Why? -- that illustrates this time. Instead, she plays cards and swears. Cookie Notice Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. Hand out the graphic organizer and give students a few minutes to complete the Before You Watch question. Why do you think big events -- like birth, illness, death, a pandemic, etc. But as the film progresses, a poignant bond develops between the two. 'Minari' is about immigrants who speak Korean. She doesnt know it yet, but the fire has proven to be a blessing in disguise; it has saved her family from what seemed like an unavoidable dissolution. Besides, he also said that before the final editing there was a scene showing she was alive. Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. Jacob faces many challenges and setbacks as he tries to make the farm work, only to lose the crop in the fire. Students will rank certain character traits in order of how important they are to personal growth. The growing minari also symbolizes hope for the Yi family to thrive in the future. Minari DISCUSSION TOPICS - Dreams, goals, life plans, death of a loved one, loneliness, disappointment, failure, follow-through, guilt, immigration, farming, Ronald Reagan, Korean War, losing faith in someone. 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? In a country where Latinx and Asian immigrants are reviled, its not surprising that production companies like A24 want to normalize the stories of immigration, focus on the American dream, and show that those of us with immigrant backgrounds are Americans. The violence on the border and the recent spike in hate crimes against Asians Americans are constant reminders that white supremacist narratives of immigrant invasion are alive and thriving. Push back on the idea that minari discussion guide is a quiet force in the fire quiet! 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