Korean Film Festival in Australia 2021 Opening Night: Minari
Lee Isaac Chung’s touching Minari opened up the 12th Korean Film Festival in Australia; a semi-autobiographical retelling of the director’s upbringing. Set in the 1980s, the Golden Globe winning Minari revolves around an immigrant Korean family trying to chase the American Dream, all while trying not to lose sight of themselves.
Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) and Han Ye-ri (Worst Woman) star as Jacob and Monica Yi, alongside their children Anne and David, played brilliantly by Noel Kate Cho and Alan Kim. Yeun’s portrayal as the stoic Jacob is heart-wrenching, as we see him struggle to make ends meet while also trying to be a good father and husband, while Han Ye-ri’s pain is visibly seen as she tries to adapt to the Yi’s new life in the Ozarks. Youn Yuh-jung rounds out the cast as Monica’s mother Soon-ja, whose unconventional grandmotherly behaviour is questionable at best. It is easily Soon-ja and David’s interactions throughout the film that are a standout perfomance – with the film showing their heartwarming relationship developing over time.
The film itself is incredibly shot, with the beautiful, sweeping golden fields of the Arkansas farmland further emphasising how vast the land is, and how isolated and alone the Yi’s feel at times. It isn’t until catastrophe strikes (and strikes again), that the family learns the true importance of home, and what that means for some people. The Korean Film Festival is running until 16 December at ACMI – so make sure you check out their website for session and ticket info.
https://koffia.com.au/2021/” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>The Korean Film Festival 2021
MELBOURNE
10 to 16 December 2021
ACMI
Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC