MINARI (12A)
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Writer-director Lee Isaac Chung draws on his own childhood for this tale of a Korean American couple, who relocate their brood to 1980s Arkansas.
Korean immigrant Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun) transplants his wife Monica (Yeri Han) and their two children Anne (Noel Cho) and David (Alan S Kim) from California to Arkansas.
Monica is unimpressed: their
Minari sees a Korean family new small holding is an hour from the nearest hospital, where David is undergoing treatment for a heart condition.
Tensions rise when she invites her cantankerous mother (Yuh-jung) to travel from South Korea to the family plot.
Meanwhile, David enlists Korean War veteran Paul (Will Patton) to grow fruit and vegetables to sell in nearby Dallas.
Minari balances sweetness and spice like expertly made kimchi in Chung’s simple yet effective script.
■ Released: April 2 (streaming on all major platforms) and screening at drive-in cinemas from April 12 and cinemas nationwide from May 17