The Movie 'Minari' Is the Language of Sincerity

Golden Globe Best Foreign Language Film Director Korean-American Lee Isaac Chung
Warm Affection and Love Conveyed in Korean "My Late Grandmother Would Have Loved It"

"‘Minari’ is a story about a family trying to communicate in their own language. That language is not English or any other foreign language, but the ‘language of sincerity’." This was the acceptance speech of director Lee Isaac Chung, who won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 78th Golden Globe Awards on the 1st (Korean time) for the film ‘Minari’.

The mention of language stems from the controversy that arose because ‘Minari’ was classified as a foreign language film. ‘Minari’ was produced by Plan B, a film company established by American actor Brad Pitt. Director Chung and lead actor and producer Steven Yeun are Korean Americans. The nationality of ‘Minari’ was also listed as American on the nominee list at the ceremony. However, according to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) rule that classifies a film as foreign language if more than half of the dialogue is not in English, it was excluded from major categories such as Best Picture.

The content of the film is American as it is based on director Chung’s autobiographical experience. It depicts the life and hardships of a Korean family who immigrated to Arkansas, USA, in the 1980s. Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Han Ye-ri), a couple who came to America chasing the American Dream, settle on a farm in Arkansas with the determination to cultivate fertile land. Monica’s mother, Soon-ja (Youn Yuh-jung), also comes from Korea to take care of their grandson David (Alan Kim), who has a heart condition, and Anne (Noel Kate Cho).

The process of overcoming hardships and trials by relying on each other aligns with the American Dream. Director Chung highlights the self-sacrifice and ascetic life of the American working class that forms its foundation. Reflecting on the values of tolerance and opportunity that allowed both natives and immigrants to pursue their aspirations, he criticizes the immigration policies of the Donald Trump administration.

The dpa news agency pointed out, "Although it is an American story centered on Korean Americans, it was the only American film nominated in the foreign language film category." It introduced the title ‘Minari’ by saying, "The traditional Korean herb symbolizing resilience is a metaphor for the perseverance and trust that the Korean immigrant family found in the face of hardship." CNN emphasized, "The exclusion of ‘Minari’ from the Best Picture category raises serious issues about racial discrimination in Hollywood," adding, "More than 20% of Americans speak a language other than English at home."

Director Chung called that the ‘language of sincerity.’ He said, "I myself am trying to learn it and pass it on," and added, "I hope we all learn how to speak to each other in this language." In a pre-interview for the Golden Globe nomination, he also explained the motivation for making ‘Minari’: "When my daughter turned seven, she started to see the world through her eyes," and "It made me recall what I felt at that age."

The role that contains director Chung’s past in the film is David. He communicates with his grandmother Soon-ja in the ‘language of sincerity’ and realizes warmth and love. Director Chung wanted to convey that process exactly. Therefore, despite concerns about funding, he inserted a large amount of Korean language. He believed that the film could convey emotion even without limiting it to immigrants. "If my grandmother were still alive, she would have been very proud that I made the film in Korean without compromise."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.