Reviews

‘Minari’ is a Gorgeous, Timeless Family Drama with Universal Themes

minari movie review

Minari is a wonderfully shot, exceptionally profound drama film that focuses on the intersection between family and living one’s dream.

After working many years on a production line sexing chickens, Korean-American family-man Jacob (Steven Yuen) sees an opportunity to live out his dream of owning and running a farm. He moves his wife, Monica (Yeri Han), and their two young children to rural Arkansas to see it through. Farm life proves to be difficult and begins to cause a rift between the couple, so Monica enlists the support of her mother, Soonja (Yuh-jung Youn), who soon moves in with them. With his home-life seemingly in order now, Jacob can begin to manage his farm and provide a better future for his family while dealing with the various setbacks that come his way.

Minari is a film about perseverance in the face of adversity and a drive to succeed against the odds. Jacob’s goal is to provide a better life for his family, and he’s willing to sacrifice a lot to achieve it, including his marriage. It’s a fundamental desire that is universally relatable and is explored here by director Lee Isaac Chung with poise and class. The director tackles the themes at a leisurely pace with intermittent insertions of humour and drama to keep the audience engaged. A lot of that engagement also comes from the performances of the film’s principal cast, all of whom are outstanding.

best movies about family

Minari showcases the desire to succeed in difficult circumstances, but it’s a family story at heart. The relationship between family members keeps the movie going and makes for its most compelling aspect. Adjusting to a new town, a new community, and even a new family member puts pressure on them, with each member forced to overcome through compromise and humility to come out stronger on the other side. Kindness and a little bit of mischief from the children get them through hard times while the audience forms a bond with the characters.

Minari works on multiple levels to tell a charming, heartfelt story. It’s a story that resonates despite colour, creed, or background. Lee Isaac Chung has crafted a poetic family drama film with timeless themes that anyone can enjoy at any stage of life, with a beautiful sheen.

Fun Fact:

Steven Yeun’s red hat was a gift from his mother when he was 17.

Minari
Story
85
Characters
85
Performances
90
Direction
90
Entertainment Value
80
Directed By
Lee Isaac Chung
Starring
Steven Yuen
Yeri Han
Noel Cho
Alan S. Kim
Will Patton
86
1622 posts

About author
Loves producing content as much as consuming it. Deserted Island Movie Collection: The films of Quentin Tarantino. Best Movie Snack: Nachos.
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