Movie Breakdown: Minari (Noah)

Pre-Screening Stance:

It’s an A24 movie with some serious hype around it. I’m in.

Post-Screening Ramble:

I watched Minari a few nights ago and haven’t been able to shake it since. It’s not a complicated story – a family of Korean immigrants move to rural Arkansas in the late ’80s to start a farm – but director Lee Isaac Chung imbues the film with layers and layers of emotion. The parents of the family (Steven Yuen and Yeri Han) butt heads about the move – Monica doesn’t understand uprooting everything for a house on wheels, while Jacob wants a chance at building something of his own – and eventually Monica invites her mother (Youn Yuh Jung) to come out for company and childcare. And if at this point the film is a beautiful, quiet reflection on the choices of our lives and their consequences, the arrival of Grandma elevates the film to a new level. The performance by Youn as a salty grandma who can’t cook, loves gambling and curses like a pirate is so genuinely likable that every other character (already wonderful in their own right) and every relationship glow with warmth. The best moments – in a film comprised only of great moments – involve Grandma and her grandchild David as they try to suss out a relationship while watching professional wrestling or confronting poisonous snakes. The movie slowly winds its way towards an ending and every step is enjoyable, the characters so believable, so realistic in their emotions and their actions, I felt like I was seated at their table, drinking deer antler tea and wishing it was mountain water. Absolutely one of the best things I’ve seen this season.

One Last Thing:

Will Patton should get a Best Supporting nod for this film. His traumatized war veteran is just the perfect amount of loopy. Yes, he screams at the sky and prays a touch too fervently (also, carries a wooden cross for miles on Sunday mornings) but it isn’t showy or even sad. It’s a fantastic performance.