I could see that Isaac was very disappointed, and the time was only one hour and it’d just gone by. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com. In "Minari," gregarious Soonja enters the lives of her daughter's family like a card-playing hurricane, sometimes clashing with her plucky young grandson, David (played by Alan Kim). At (the time), it was after the Korean War, so everything was just short. To read our full stories, please turn off your ad blocker.We'd really appreciate it. Watched Apr 05 , 2021. daniel w’s review published ... whereas the grandma (hilarious and a subtly stunning performance) has been through it all and rejects these trappings. Advertisement. As it thrives along a forest brook near the family trailer, David and his father return to the vibrant outgrowth Grandma Soonja has planted. Well, (there) was a very nice scene I thought Isaac wrote, when David was praying. But I know that film shoots are often not peaceful. After 30 or 40 pages later, I phoned back to her [and asked], “Is it the real story of him [and his family]?” She said, “Yes.” So, to me, it was very authentic, really. With their relationship improving, David confides to her that he doesn’t want to die and she tenderly sings him to sleep, saying, “I won’t let you die.” Unfortunately, this force-of-nature grandmother is faced with a health crisis of her own which is resolved with some … Does an animal die? A tender and moving story that explores the complicated truth about the American Dream, the new film follows the journey of a Korean-American family that moves to Arkansas in the 1980s to fulfill patriarch Jacob Yi (The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun)’s dream of growing Korean vegetables on an American farm. Are animals abused? We are all different and beautiful. We were smoking outside and he said to me, “선생님 (seon-saeng-nim).” [Seon-saeng-nim] 선생님 means teacher in Korean—it’s more like a master because it’s [for] senior people. I know many of them from Korea, but luckily and fortunately, Isaac was very open-minded about my acting and he trusted me. Does the dog die? Results of those races are pending, and an Oscar nod isn't out of the question. It started as a part-time job, actually, in my freshman year [at Hanyang University in Seoul], trying to get some money. I would do it as a grandma, and then I would do it as a mother. Soonja tells David at one point, when he's worried about running due to his heart condition, that they can go slow, and that's OK. I asked, “Should I imitate your grandmother? Go ahead and enter some text into the encoder. What are some of the biggest differences that you have noticed between working on sets in America compared to Korea? Is there anything that playing this character taught you? Hollywood, for us as Korean, that’s another part of the world. At this stage of your career, do those prestigious awards still mean a lot to you or are you more focused on the work itself? This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. But I’m a very practical person and a very realistic person. I n Minari, each facet of this immigrant Korean family’s life can be felt with all the senses. Minari comes to represent the tenacious immigrant spirit. She asked me, “Could you meet them?” And she’s my good friend, so [I said], “Okay, I’ll go do that.”. I didn't understand (her growing up), so I was very regretful every moment. 4.8/5 (38 Views . All rights reserved. "Minari" is Youn's first American feature film, and she's already taken the country's film community by storm. How did you prepare for this role? So, [I was] trying to learn how to speak English, and people say just to watch the soap opera, and you will pick up some words. It's too late. We are all human beings—the same human beings. American-Statesman: What attracted you to the story of "Minari"? FB Tweet. Things that hide are more scary and dangerous. So, my reaction—as an elderly actor—was that it was a good sign because he was nervous facing this role. A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit. Steven Yeun, right, in "Minari" with Alan Kim by Lee Isaac Chung. I didn’t like her because she wasn’t hygienic. Is there dog fighting? complicated truth about the American Dream. ... David, who is forced to share a room with her, avoids her because she does not conform to his idea of how a grandmother should be. Actually, we are not celebrating at all, because this is my first-time experience. She's nabbed several awards for her role from various critics groups so far, and she's been nominated for best supporting actress by the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and Critics' Choice Awards. She introduced me and she had a Korean friend who’s teaching in the University of Utah. The minari will continue to grow, interweaving Korean roots with the … Why do you think it’s so important to tell the stories of the immigrant experience and the difficulties that so many people have to face? And I was like, “Wow, that’s nice.” So, I started working at the station [called the Tongyang Broadcasting Company]. You just have to play yourself. Only grandmas can do that; only they can give you this strong hope that they will never let you die. I’m not a fortune teller, but I could say, “He will do good.” (Laughs.) [He said], “I’d like to see heaven” or something like that. We cannot calculate that the flame goes this way or that way. After a career that has spanned five decades across film and television, Korean screen legend Youn Yuh-Jung is about to enter uncharted territory with the theatrical release of Minari—the Oscar contender that also marks her American feature film debut. In 'Minari', the tale of a hard-luck immigrant farming family in rural Arkansas in the 1980s highlighted the heyday of immigration from South Korea to the United States. I tried to put off the fire and then the flame was [coming] towards my face. Grandma brings buttercup (“minari”) seeds from Korea to plant by the creek, and while Jacob’s crops suffer from lack of rain, the minari greens thrive. You can feel whatever you feel like to do. With Isaac’s brilliant directing, we took a massive first take between him and me, and we shared the lines together. We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. I'm learning day by day. Then, he liked to talk about that movie, but his students were not interested in that old-time actress. What was your first experience with acting and why did you want to become an actress? What were your impressions of working with Isaac as your director? This is my first experience and I only watch the Golden Globes thing on the television, so it’s not affecting me. Minari is a modest pic but very human and accessible, and quite distinctively so in comparison to the vast majority of high-concept and/or violent movies rolling out today. You do it this way, [and] I’ll do it this way. Minari 2020. The first day was him and me, I think, and he memorized all of the lines between him and me. More:Ross Ulbricht's path from Westlake teen to drug ring mastermind now 'Silk Road' biopic. So I don't know how to react. Minari (Korean: 미나리, transl. ... Grandma's idea was, if he sees heaven, that means he is gone. Minari is a semi-autobiographical fiction film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung.It is an honest and moving work, which treats the experience of an … Can grandma Soon-ja's humble but resilient minari … Why is Mina from TWICE called Minari/Miguri? 'Minari' grandma Yuh-Jung Youn has apologized for calling British people 'snobbish' in her BAFTA acceptance speech ahead of the Oscars. Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site. Shot in America, about America, by an American filmmaker, "Minari" is an authentically American story – even if the Golden Globes disagree. [His] grandma was shocked [and said], “What does that mean?” And then grandma said, “I will never let you die” or something like that. (Laughs.). You could be very happy in the moment. And watching him directing me, directing other actors, I just admired and respected, without any temper. So, I went to meet with Isaac and his students, and Isaac was kind of the moderator between his students and me. ... That's the grandma's wisdom. You do whatever you want to do.” So, he allowed me to have this freedom [which] is a relief because I didn’t have to try to imitate his own grandmother. You know, you cannot beat realistic things. It is a sort of herbs, or, wild vegetables, its full name being water parsley or water celery. It's breaking my heart, still, every time I (talk) about this. Getting hurt is all part of growing up. Because everybody is different and this world is getting smaller and smaller. and she said "It is big." Was there a scene that was particularly difficult to shoot? That’s stupid things to compare. I started as “talent,” which is what we call the TV actress [in Korea]. [I thought], How did he know about this movie?! Yuh–Jung Youn and Alan S. Kim in Minari One of Monica’s concerns is her son’s medical condition. I don’t know because with my lack of English, I’m not sure if I can accept a role who speaks [fluent] English. Grandma brought minari seeds* from Korea and plants them on a hill near the stream – an action that has unexpected future ramifications. My favorite scene was [David’s] mother asking him to pray before he went to bed, and his prayer was according to his mother’s information. Lee Isaac Chung's moving immigrant drama "Minari" is a gentle, truthful and tender story of family. Foulmouthed Soonja is unlike “a real grandma,” much to David’s chagrin; she’s lively, teasing, and lighthearted. I was right. At first, David thinks Soonja just smells weird and doesn’t act at all the way a grandmother should, but soon they forge a bond that strengthens the whole family. Minari (Korean: 미나리, transl. Asked if he expects he’ll be famous post-”Minari,” he answered enthusiastically and without haste: “Yes.” And how will his life change? He helps her plant minari, but this is the rare bright spot in the Yi household. And then, the first question was about my first debut movie, Woman of Fire. When you are young, you don't know what's going on, actually. (grins) Now I can't carry you up the three-foot drop to get into our new home, but if you can scramble up there, I'll carry you across a seam in the old smelly carpet inside. Have you known women in your life that remind you of Soonja, whom you drew from in creating the character? Minari is now available in theaters and will be available on demand starting February 26. It wilts quickly, so be sure to use it within a few days. Minari is Chung’s fifth film, though it’s his first explicitly autobiographical film, drawn from childhood memories growing up as one of the few Korean immigrants in 1980s Arkansas. His mother is a very devoted Christian, she wishes him to see heaven. How can I describe — it was kind of embarrassing, because he's my son's age. The difficult scene, physically, was the fire scene. Until we made that movie, before I got that information from (director) Isaac, I didn't know about the minari that well. The award doesn’t mean nothing to me. That was my experience. 'Minari' review: The movie we need after an exhausting 2020 - Los Angeles Times Never thought about, well, never dreamed about having an award from America. So I think since Moana's grandma was holding onto the heart in her necklace, it kept her alive. (I was) thinking about my great-grandmother's love (during filming). Courtesy of A24. There's not a weak performance to be found in writer-director Lee Isaac Chung's "Minari." “She smells like Korea,” he complains. The small screen does not do justice to Minari, a rich, expansive film about the human condition. Isaac actually forgot to say, “Cut,” and me being an old-time actress, I was trying to just act. It was tragic, actually. He's never rude to anybody. 'Grandma Walton' Dies. Oh no, I’m sure he must have felt terrible after that. I met friends there. I wish I could just kneel down front of her and then, just begging her: "I was so stupid, grandma." I was just trying to learn what happened because [I have] no knowledge. I cannot go back and just tell her. 'Minari' review: The movie we need after an exhausting 2020 - Los Angeles Times We eat it all the time. The following is a list of all upgrades for Grandma, unlocked in the Bingo Center/Research Facility. Visual China Group via Getty Images. Actually, [my ex-husband] was [on] a student visa, and I was his wife. I said, “Okay, I’ll do it.”. I thought, Oh, he will do good. I just enjoy it. Asian grandmas, chilli and American racism: why Minari has Koreans in tears | South China Morning Post. Most Popular I'm sure she knows how to plant that minari, and then she already has some lifetime lesson. Did you know that to write any letter on the computer, it takes 8 "lightbulbs"? How were you able to kind of get into that sense of peace and that slower pace that comes across in the movie? Of course, that moment when you receive the award, you’ll be very happy. Yuh-jung Youn plays foul-mouthed but loving grandma Soonja, who leaves Korea to come help care for the children. The difficult scene, physically, was the fire scene…. Asked By: Yenny Kirschner | Last Updated: 20th April, 2020. Fresh minari is not always available, so when I see it, I buy it straight away. When the Yi family arrives, Jacob rushes to the barn to try to stop it, … 37 Votes) The heart of Te Fiti has the power to create life. You've been very celebrated for this role. Isaac actually forgot to say, “Cut,” and me being an old-time actress, I was trying to just act. I can’t feel anything, so controversy, I cannot talk about it. I didn’t bribe anyone or anything, but he promised. The wind is blowing and minari is bowing. You have received some well-deserved recognition for this film already, but there has been a little bit of controversy because Minari was put in the foreign film category at the Golden Globes instead of the main one. Can you talk about your initial impressions of working with actors like Steven and Alan? That was dangerous and everybody was nervous. Once the Bingo Center is purchased, the first research project will be completed 30 minutes later. I'm sure she knows how to plant that minari, and then she already has some lifetime lesson. Youn Yuh-Jung backstage after winning Best Supporting Actress for The Housemaid at the 5th Asia Film Awards in 2011. Not only does “Minari” strike some of the same emotional chords as “Driveways,” but both films center around generational relationships between the aged and the young. Lee Isaac Chung's moving immigrant drama "Minari" is a gentle, truthful and tender story of family. In an extended Zoom interview, Youn talks to Observer about her own immigrant experience in the United States, her working relationship with Korean-American director Lee Isaac Chung, and the controversy that has surrounded the film during the extended awards season. Now it should all get interesting. The well that Jacob dug runs dry. Josh Ethan Johnson/A24. The problem, I think, is I cannot compare the Korean and the American [because] I only know one American director—Isaac. Guild." I'm sure she knows how to plant that minari, and then she already has some lifetime lesson. So, it was on my face. That’s a lot of movies to watch, analyze, and enjoy. "Minari," an American movie written and directed by an American man about a family's struggles on their American farm, competed -- and won -- in a … David has a heart problem and the nearest hospital is an hour away. The Bingo Center/Research Facility can also unlock new upgrades for grandmas. That plant never dies. He has strong faith on me that I [was] really grateful [for]. I don’t know the detail or the system. She knows if she plants that seed, it will never die. I’d never been in the States at all; it was my first time. (Laughs.) I thought about my great-grandmother. He was very calm, and he controlled the child actors, and he's very comforting (to) me and encouraging me to do this. Alan Kim was 7 years old when he filmed 'Minari,' and now he finds himself in the midst of an awards campaign while going to Zoom school. Still, it's not real to me. "water celery") is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung.It stars Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Youn Yuh-jung, and Will Patton.A semi-autobiographical take on Chung's upbringing, the plot follows a family of South Korean immigrants who try to make it in the rural United States during the 1980s. That plant never dies. Why does the grandma die in Moana? Set in the hardscrabble Ozarks of the late 1970s, the story of the immigrant Yi family gains narrative urgency when David’s grandmother (할머니, halmoni) arrives at … (Laughs.) At the time in Korea, I think television was a new thing for us back in the ’60s. What personal experiences did you use to build her character? When you bring it home, wrap it in a sheet of newspaper or paper towels, put it in a plastic bag, and keep it in the refrigerator until ready to use. I was very impressed. So whatever they see, they can see [from] a different angle. Would you like to do more feature films in America? Then he'd say "act," and then you've got to act! She knows if she plants that seed, it will never die. There’s an irony to Minari being one of the year’s most talked-about movies, the buzz around it growing ever louder as it racks up more and more nominations in … That’s really touching to myself. Later on, she always said she doesn't eat, she said she's not hungry. (Laughs.) I said, “Wow, I’m gonna die.” (Laughs.) Do you have any thoughts on this? "Oh, actors vote (for) actors, I get it.". My reward is getting new jobs, new projects—that’s my reward. Soon, however, Grandma wins David over, and unlike the others believes he is not the weakling he's encouraged to be. Solved: Does Lina's grandma die in The City of Ember? Alan Kim and Youn Yuh-jung as David and grandma in "Minari." Now In Theaters & On Demand Below are steps you can take in order to whitelist Observer.com on your browser: Click the AdBlock button on your browser and select Don't run on pages on this domain. MINARI — Nominated for 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture! So, I really thought about her during that time. I looked at him [surprised] because, to me, he was such a young man and he remembered my first movie back more than 50 years ago. He’s the professor for that film class, and during the Busan International Film Festival [in 2018], there were students [who] wanted to meet some actress [that could also speak English].