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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

MINARI (2020)

Inspired by his own backstory, writer/director Lee Isaac Chung finds straightforward beauty in this family farm story about Korean immigrants (father/mother/two kids) who take a big leap of faith after ten lean years, moving from baby chick sorting in California to working their own 50 acre lot in Arkansas to grow Korean style crops.  (Chick sorting on the side as they get started.)  No real surprises, but lots of crises for ambitious dreamer Dad and more practical Mom, plus young son with a heart condition that needs watching and a remarkably well-adjusted older sister.  Add in a pair of wildcards in Bill Patton’s farmhand, a man living in a constant state of religious ecstacy; and the late family addition of Youn Yuh-jung’s non-traditional maternal Grandmother in a standout perf.  But really, all the cast exceptional, neighbors & local church-goers, too.  And while there’s a natural melodramatic slant to a structure built largely out of a series of crises solved (weather, water sourcing, marital face-offs, fire, isolation, canceled produce orders, Mountain Dew), Chung pays for every moment of sentiment with honest, even heartbreaking dramatic loss, and locates a Neo-Realistic core in spite of all four principals having long lists of credits.  Lots of awards on this one; well deserved.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID/LINK: Chung already slotted to write/direct a Live Action remake of YOUR NAME/’06, Makoto Shinkai’s hugely successful anime.  Good choice!  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2018/06/kimi-no-na-wa-your-name-2016.html

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: Similar story elements in Jean Renoir's best Hollywood film, THE SOUTHERNER/’45.  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-southerner-1945.html

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