What do you think Jacob is feeling as he talks to David about the farm? I do feel confident in this: Soonja is *definitely* a Trickster. As professor of ethnic studies, I teach a class on Asian American literature and film. While she was in California, she was surrounded by other Korean expatriates, which created a sense of community. Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. Minari is wonderful, wonderful!". Exhibit self-discipline and self-motivation. 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. Based on Chung's own childhood, 'Minari' is about a Korean American family that moves to rural Arkansas to start a farm. Lets deep dive into the Minari ending. When they're by the creek, Soonja says, "It's better to see [the snake] than have it hide. Charming, limpid, and earnest, it's both a familiar tale and a wholly new one.. Due to his heart problems, he is discouraged from physical exertion. Help students find the strength and confidence to overcome obstacles in their own lives. Discuss. Judging from the script, I'd say David is the Protagonist as the story is told through his perspective. The Minari ending shows the Yi family getting good news, first with Davids heart murmur, and then with Jacob finding a grocer, but the second good news is immediately followed by bad news. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday July 16. 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? They eventually give up and Monica breaks down as they watch the barn burn. Just like each of the family's members has the "seeds" of an inner strength inside which grows to meet the tests they face, so, too, the minari plants, capable of growing without any aid at all. They'll also considerhow this might play out for others who aren't like themselves. Heres how it works. Minari first and foremost is a Korean immigrant story, so Korean Americans and Korean immigrants will connect and understand this story in a way that other Americans cannot, but at the heart of this story is a very American story, a story of wanting to better oneself and family. Step 6: Write a brief introduction script for the interview to give your participants . Isnt it possible to have many Asian American stories? His wife struggling to understand that dream. * The fire: A major reversal, indeed, the destruction of what Jacob had worked so hard to build, the barn a symbol of what the farm *could* be. Why or why not? Anticipate and evaluate the consequences of theiractions. What are the pressures of "fitting in" while also being true to yourself/where you came from? 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. Privacy Policy. (27:40-31:25), Clip #6: Grandma (Soonja) makes David a special tea, and he complains about a "Korea" smell in his room. 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. Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. And who is even included in this fantasy of America? Why? At the heart of the movie are questions about the choices we make for our familiesand the priorities behind them. "Wonderful, wonderful!" The dual-language Minari Screenplay Book features Korean translations of all texts alongside the original English. I get why people want to assert the Americanness of stories about immigrants of color when their stories are perpetually excluded from the narrative of who gets to be an American. MINARI tells the story of the Yi family through the eyes of David (Alan S. Kim), a young boy whose family has uprooted from California to Arkansas to chase his father Jacob's (Steven Yeun) dream of owning a farm.David and his older sister, Anne (Noel Cho), try to find their place in Arkansas, while their mother, Monica (Yeri Han), wishes she was still in California, where she felt comfortable . Step 5: Test your discussion guide with a colleague. 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. The kids go to church so they can call their mother. The Oscars have a long history of diversity issues, including that they were dominated by white men. Why? The movie's final scene is of Jacob and David at the creek picking minari, the only thriving plant. Create something -- a piece of writing, art, music, a game, etc. The book has little in the way of a conventional plot, but it still forms a cohesive whole. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). And yet, eventually, he manages to discard that obsession at the right time. A sweet, tender, and authentic look into a Korean family moving into the United States and vying for that elusive American Dream. You can use all of the questions and activities or pick and choose, depending on how much time you have. I have been a life long lover of pop culture, especially television, turned that passion into writing about all things entertainment related. This event has passed. Jacob refuses to hire a water dowser (people who seemingly find underground water through divination using a forked twig). and our 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. This year also saw the highest number of nominations that went to women across the top . Why? 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. #1: Define goals, research questions and hypotheses with stakeholders. Is there a "right"? 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. Start with the foundations of your research project: As explained in the movie and by the cast, --Chung called it a weed in an interview with The Wrap, but Yuh-jung corrected him and said that its a vegetable-- minari is a versatile plant used in Korean households in various ways. Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Complex characters. Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? Chung wanted to make a particular story, not a universal story. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. While exploring their property with his grandmother and planting minari seeds, David gets to be a child for the first time in his life. (4/5 stars) Directed by: Lee Isaac Chung. 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. Students will also reflect on howtheir ownsense of identity has developed within their family and community-- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. Students will be writing down notes about one character's motivations. Show the entire film with a more in-depth lesson plan and. 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. What does Jacob's decision to grow Korean vegetables in Arkansas say about culture and identity? The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. Minari Film Discussion, March 11, 2021. Considering Minari is a semi-autobiographical movie, there is no reason to theorize she is dead. Jacob relies on knowledge and planning, so dismisses the dowser. .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. Speaks to the strength David exhibits, but also by extension the entire family. To access over 90 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here. After seeing that Soonja is all right, Monica rushes in as well. Here are my takeaways via each days discussion. We're about to get into spoilers from the movie, so if you haven't watched it yet, read no further! What are Monica's? (34:04-35:56), Clip #7: Grandma can't bake, but she shows the kids what she can do by teaching them a card game. Grandma drinks it, he's punished, and Grandma defends him. You might also want to discuss some of the learning objectives or the concept of active viewing. 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. Life in Arkansas is far from what Jacob and his wife Monica (Yeri Han) hoped. Depending on what's best for your class, have students work in pairs, small groups, or as a whole class. Soon-ja also serves as a link between Monica and Korea by bringing traditional medicines (for David) and native spices. (1:02:06-1:03:57), Clip #11: After David gets hurt, Grandma emphasizes how strong he is. But such polemical certainty cramps the . (25:49-27:39), Clip #5: Grandma (Soonja) arrives, and David is unsure about her. Also, he has faith, another quality Jacob's family needs. Ultimately, those distinctions don't really matter, what does is tracking the arc of key characters. The kids, David (played by Alan Kim) and Anne. The kids go to church so they can call their mother. Here is everything you need to know about the films ending. 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. New York, Minari is a unique and textured narrative, and that is what makes the film beautiful. 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