“Minari” a metaphor for human grit and resiliency
As a first generation Malaysian living in Australia, I often grapple with the intricacies of my own identity — where do I fit in? where do I belong?
Naturally I am drawn to films that portray Asians in a Western setting. I enjoyed ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ especially because it was filmed in locations where I’d spent my childhood and featured actors that looked like me. I identified with Billi in ‘The Farewell’ when she fought with conflicting western and eastern ideals within herself.
I enjoyed this movie because it felt so familiar it was almost nostalgic. As an immigrant, I identified with the struggles the Yi family had with integration and assimilation. This was an experience unique to such a small populace that I did not even hope to see on the big screen.
But would people who lived outside of the Asian experience in the West be interested in a movie where nothing really happens?
After recent turbulent times in light of Covid-19, heated protests and an election riled with tension from both sides, perhaps this is just what America needs.
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Minari follows a Korean family with an American dream. A dream of prosperity, success and social mobility.
Jacob sets his sights on owning a plentiful farmland, and relocates his young family to Arkansas in order to pursue this dream.
His wife, Monica agrees to the move but secretly doubts his capability to succeed and fears for her son — David, a stubborn but charming 7 year old boy who has a weak heart.
Alienated from their comfortable life in California, cracks in Monica and David’s relationship begin to surface. The arrival of the kids’ grandmother from Korea further shifts the family dynamics.
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Minari explores the human condition by covering universal experiences such as family, belonging, aspiration and resilience. One does not have to have lived as an Asian immigrant to identify with its themes.
Minari also normalises failure. In a world where social media runs rampant and everyone shows their best self, this is especially encouraging to see because we recognise ourselves in Jacob when things go awry.
Art is an imitation of life. But I did not expect an art that resembled life so closely to be this beautiful!
This also made me consider how God’s plan for our lives is so much more interesting than what we want. It is chaotic, it can’t be thought up, but the good part is that we don’t need to.
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I still remember the first time I stepped into church in Australia, feeling homesick in a foreign environment. I still remember the first time I set foot in Perth as a permanent resident — its gusty wind billowing strong against my hair and clothing. It was refreshing and clean and invigorating — an experience I had never felt back in my hometown in Malaysia.
This film stands as a message of hope and encouragement to not just all immigrants, but all humans across the world, to take heart, to persevere, because just as abruptly as the movie ended, we know that life goes on.
