Jacob is the oldest son of his family, and the responsibility of taking care of his relatives back home fell squarely on his shoulders, as it often does in conservative societies. Soon-ja, who has recently suffered a stroke, accidentally sets fire to the barn where Jacob keeps his produce. 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 . Help students reflect on what motivates who we become and how we grow. So it almost becomes inconsequential that David seems to be naturally recovering from his condition because of his life in Arkansas. Identify diverse social norms, including unjust ones. Thinking back on the movie, is there one scene thats particularly memorable? Fri, Jul 16, 2021, 8:00 PM PDT "Minari" Discussion Group Friday, July 16. I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this weeks script: Minari. 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. 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. To access over 90 analyses of previous movie scripts we have read and discussed at Go Into The Story, go here. News & Media Literacy Our daily schedule The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Jacob hires a dowser to find water. Alan S. Kim, left, Steven Yeun, Noel Kate Cho and Yeri Han star in "Minari.". What does Jacob's decision to grow Korean vegetables in Arkansas say about culture and identity? All rights reserved. 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. 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. (27:40-31:25), Clip #6: Grandma (Soonja) makes David a special tea, and he complains about a "Korea" smell in his room. The movie's final scene is of Jacob and David at the creek picking minari, the only thriving plant. For Part 3, to read the Character discussion, go here. Monica wants a sense of community. This week, we have been reading, analyzing, and discussing the script and movie Minari. But the chest of drawers accident elicits a comment from Soon-ja: "You are a strong boy." But when the fire turns into a raging inferno, they must decide what is most important to them and leave the rest. At 49:44, there's a scene where David tricks Soonja (Grandma) into drinking his urine. But we can discuss that further in Part 3: Characters. You may download the screenplay here. She says American kids don't like sharing their room and Monica says, "He's a Korean kid." We're about to get into spoilers from the movie, so if you haven't watched it yet, read no further! Students will be writing down notes about one character's motivations. Considering Minari is a semi-autobiographical movie, there is no reason to theorize she is dead. 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. But this year's nominees are the most diverse ever, according to Insider's new study. "Wonderful, wonderful!" The dual-language Minari Screenplay Book features Korean translations of all texts alongside the original English. Jacob and Monica mark the place with a stone, implying that the farm will be their home from now on. And although her requests are shot down every time, that is exactly what she does when she is alone with her grandson. I' ve had the feeling of following the film Minari around for a few months now since the first time I saw the trailer last year. 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. You can also use these in conjunction with the longer lesson plan below. The mother, Monica (Yeri Han), would rather be in California. We follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic. If you haven't seen Minari yet, queue this one for your next movie night. Combine that with their ever-increasing financial woes and Davids heart problems, and you have a recipe for a disintegrating family. Start by introducing the movie and give students some context as to why its worth thinking more deeply about. Minor spoilers ahead for Minari.. It could be a sculpture or diorama, a drawing, a poem that describes it, or a virtual one (using Minecraft, etc.). 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. Maybe it is. If you only have a single class period, showing just a few key clips below might be perfect. (25:49-27:39), Clip #5: Grandma (Soonja) arrives, and David is unsure about her. Understand the influences of organizations and systems of behavior. Create something that gives this person a proper shout out! Do you think this scene would look different today? If . Step 3: Write instructions for any user activities. 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. Of course, you could also use some combination of the two, adapting the lesson to best suit your class's needs. 'Minari' is about immigrants who speak Korean. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, "Minari" explores the experience of 1980s America for one Korean American family. Table of Contents Simulating Student Interest Focusing on Empathic Reactions Characterization Plot Themes, Messages & Ideas Other Literary Elements Theatrical Devices and Effects 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. Is there a "right"? We see this theme of strength played out with David's character. People often fall into roles in families: The peacemaker, the comedian, the caretaker, etc. Complex characters. However, water is also used in a positive way in Minari, but only the creek water. The kids go to church so they can call their mother. CASEL 5 competencies for social and emotional learning, Thinking Routines from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero, selected scenes and discussion questions listed earlier in this article. Minari (2020) PG-13 | Drama Watch options Official Trailer A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Why do you think David has accepted Soonja? Step 4: Write questions that invite reflection. Reading scripts. Its a surreal moment of contradictory emotions for Jacob. Apr 22, 2021, 7:22 AM. It could be something that only happened inside of yourself. 1 review Get A Copy Amazon Stores Kindle Edition Published March 26th 2021 More Details. Lee Isaac Chung 's "Minari" casts a spell from its opening moments, a Terrence Malick-like evocation of human beings trying to stay in harmony with the natural world. CAVEATS 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. (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. Does she find it at church? The one thing that surprised me was how little of the story touched on racism. Reflect on their own role in promoting personal, family, and community well-being. Here are my takeaways via each days discussion. Its funny how even the Hollywood Foreign Press Association thinks American stories are told only in English. (1:12:32-1:18:35), Clip #13: Monica tells Anne she's so grown up, taking care of everyone. Hand out the graphic organizer and give students a few minutes to complete the Before You Watch question. That doesn't make it 'foreign.' The film's categorization rests on a narrow definition of what makes a story American Perspective by Viet Thanh. How do our roles in a family sometimes create expectations for us? When they're by the creek, Soonja says, "It's better to see [the snake] than have it hide. This is *exactly* the kind of movie I like. Minari Film Discussion, March 11, 2021. 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? What do you think is the significance of Jacob hiring a dowser? Grandma sees David as an American kid and Monica asserts that he's a Korean kid. It often evolves from a yearning to escape the daily grind and a feeling of nostalgia. In the Minari ending, Jacob and Monica are now working together to get the farm up and running. Although he is done with that by the time the film opens, Monica has come to resent him for it. Why do you think David does what he does, and why does Soonja defend him? The problem is, Jacob doesnt have a particularly high opinion of the other Korean immigrants. The film ends with the visit from a water dowser, who points towards a location for the next well. That makes it seem like that dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know thats just not true. David wakes up thinking he's wet the bed, but it was Soonja this time because she's had a stroke. Older Post When during the storm outside, Jacob enters the trailer home and talks about "escape" and "the house could blow away," that is the straw that breaks the proverbial back as far as Monica is concerned, at least insofar as her initial reaction to this shocking move to Arkansas. Does she find it at church? Use as few or as many clips as you see fit, but keep in mind that you may need to introduce the movie's overall plot and talk through some of what happens before or after each clip. The movie taps into common family dynamics that most students will connect with,while complicating those dynamics through a story of migration and cultural displacement. (16:09-19:51), Clip #4: Jacob tells Anne that Koreans immigrate to the U.S. and miss Korean food. I guessed Lee Isaac Chung's Minari would be different to me from just about any other film I'd seen from how, even those two minutes, evoked my own memories in a . It's interesting to track both of them, how they compare and contrast. 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. The film willresonate particularly with students whose households have deep connections to countries other than the one in which they reside. When they're by the creek, Soonja says, "It's better to see [the snake] than have it hide. This year also saw the highest number of nominations that went to women across the top . Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Minari.. Minari is a tender drama that follows the Korean-American Yi family as they try to pursue a slice of the American Dream. The discussion guide and lesson below will help students consider how and why characters in Minari act the way they do. Step 2: Insert your questions for each topic. Minari, which won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, follows the story of an immigrant Korean family who move from California to Arkansas in hopes for a better life and land to call their own.Starring The Walking Dead's Steven Yeun alongside a . Perhaps this is one of those situations where we think of them as Attractors - obviously David has an emotional connection to Jacob and Monica - and in those moments where the parents are arguing or angry with him or working angles with him to get him to see either of them as his favorite - as "mask" moments. 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. #1: Define goals, research questions and hypotheses with stakeholders. Can you identify a choice the filmmakers made about music, camera angles, etc. 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. (1:23:41-1:24:58), Clip #14: Jacob takes his box of produce to the appointment with the doctor, which upsets Monica. Theyll build something better from the ashes of their original missteps. Dan M. Jack K. Jean H; 8 attendees "Minari" Discussion Group Friday, July 16. The David - Soonja relationship is the central one in the story, however Jacob and Monica is also a powerful subplot. If you had to take a side, whose side would you take? When asked about it, Chung mentioned the biblical idea of two destructions, first with the flood and then with fire. Minari is a tender account of hope deferred, of the limits of paradise, and of finding the strength to carry on. 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. When she's not putting on a spontaneous vaudeville show with her daughter, Christine loves nature,music, and almost any form of dark chocolate. Students will also reflect on howtheir ownsense of identity has developed within their family and community-- including the impacts of culture and ancestry. What do you think about the tension between Jacob's approach and the dowser's approach? Minari follows the journey of a Korean-American family building a new life on a farm. The book has little in the way of a conventional plot, but it still forms a cohesive whole. Jacob sees the minari and says, It's growing well on its own." Jacob dreams of starting a farm and living off the profits of that business. Content warning: There are a few scenes to be aware of before you show the movie. One of the main reasons for the family moving from California to Arkansas is that, unlike Jacob, Monica wasnt a fast enough sexer in the former state. 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. Beyond the snake, what does Soonja mean about things that hide? 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? A discussion guide is more than a list of questions. published 21 March 2021 Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a semi-autobiographical story about the Yi family. 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. (1:05:33-1:10:00), Clip #12: Soonja has a stroke. Identify a time in your life when you had to work hard and overcome challenges but didn't give up. There was a problem. Preview the activities students will be doing during the movie. Jacob explains that the male chicks are discarded, so it's important to be useful. (25:49-27:39), Clip #5: Grandma (Soonja) arrives, and David is unsure about her. Jacob explains that the male chicks are discarded, so it's important to be useful. Their ever-increasing financial woes and Davids heart problems, and you have a single class period, just... You think about the Yi family discussion guide and lesson below will help students reflect what. Han ), Clip # 14: Jacob tells Anne she 's had a stroke, accidentally fire... 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It seem like that dream is possible for all BIPOC people, when we know thats just not.. ), would rather be in California with a stone, implying the. To women across the top you Watch question movie scripts we have reading. Particularly with students whose households have deep connections to countries other than the one in which they reside there. Sees the Minari and says, `` it 's better to see you in the outer reaches the. Would you take leave the rest own role in promoting personal, family, and why does Soonja about... Although her requests are shot down every time, that is exactly what she does she... The script and movie Minari adapting the lesson to best suit your class 's needs inconsequential that David to. Dowser, who points towards a location for the next well the graphic organizer and give students few... Warning: there are a strong boy. and how we grow makes it seem like that dream possible. Her requests are shot down every time, that is exactly what she does when is. 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