Films·Feb 20, 2021

Minari

2020 American drama film by Lee Isaac Chung.

Metadata

Summary: Minari follows a Korean immigrant family trying to build a new life on a small farm in Arkansas. The father dreams of creating something of his own, while the mother worries about stability, isolation, and what this move is costing the family. When the grandmother arrives from Korea, the household becomes both more chaotic and more deeply rooted.
Overall theme: The film is about immigration, family, resilience, and the quiet sacrifices behind the idea of a “better life.” It shows the American dream not as a clean success story, but as something fragile, stubborn, and emotionally complicated. Its heart is in the tension between ambition and care: what we chase for our family can also strain the family we are trying to protect.
Cinematography style: The cinematography is gentle, naturalistic, and sun-washed, giving the Arkansas landscape a feeling of both promise and loneliness. The camera often stays close to everyday family moments rather than making the story feel overly dramatic. Soft light, open fields, modest interiors, and quiet compositions make the film feel intimate, earthy, and memory-like.