Movie 'Minari' Man Wins Golden Globe This Time

Korean-American Director and Actor Unite in 'The Angry People'
Triple Crown: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress
Loneliness Felt as Immigrants Becomes Nourishment for Acting

On the 7th (local time), at the Golden Globe Awards in the United States, "Minari," which won three awards including Best TV Mini-Series, Best Actor (Steven Yeun), and Best Actress (Ali Wong), is a black comedy drama created through the collaboration of a Korean-American director and actors. It depicts the story of Danny (Steven Yeun), a poor man with no visible future, and Amy (Ali Wong), a wealthy woman estranged from her husband and living through depressing days, who get into a dispute while driving. Released on Netflix in April last year, it ranked in the top 10 for viewing hours for five consecutive weeks and achieved global success. It also received praise for vividly portraying the uncontrollable anger of modern people.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The driving force behind it is the experience of director Lee Sung-jin, a Korean-American. He wrote and directed the script and said at the 'International Broadcasting and Video Market (BCWW) 2023' organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency last year, "'Minari' is a work that could not have existed 5 to 10 years ago," adding, "In the past, I worried about how to write something Americans would like, but now there is no need for that anymore." Like Danny in the drama, Director Lee attended a Korean church in the U.S. during his childhood. In his acceptance speech, he laughed and said, "Our show is actually based on a car accident that happened to me, so I can’t help but thank that driver. Sir, I hope you continue to shout and inspire others (laughs)."

The source of the vivid expressions also comes from experience. Born in Seoul in 1983, Steven Yeun moved to the United States with his family when he was five years old. He majored in psychology in college but developed an interest in acting and began his career as an actor. After working as an unknown actor, he rose to stardom in 2010 by playing Glenn in the drama "The Walking Dead." The loneliness and isolation he felt as an immigrant for a long time became nourishment for his acting. He said, "At first, I was sad when no one accepted me here or there and I was left alone, but after overcoming that, I gained strength."

Steven Yeun demonstrated his inherent talent through acting in director Bong Joon-ho’s "Okja" (2017) and director Lee Chang-dong’s "Burning" (2018). In director Lee Isaac Chung’s "Minari" (2021), he sublimated his identity as a Korean-American into a tenacious vitality that overcomes adversity. Thanks to this, he experienced the joy of becoming the first Asian actor to be nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. Although he did not win, he received high praise for knowing how to blend his identity into the work without overtly emphasizing it.

In "Minari," he realistically portrays the pathetic side of Danny, who lives with frustration as things rarely go his way. In his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude to his family and the production team, saying, "It’s really amazing. The stories I usually tell myself are mostly about loneliness and isolation, but experiencing this moment here makes me think of everyone else. It feels like the animated movie 'Frozen'." "Frozen" is about Queen Elsa, who chooses loneliness and isolation herself but changes through the true love shown by her sister Anna.

For Steven Yeun and director Lee Sung-jin, dramatic emotions may come once again. "Minari" has been nominated in eleven categories with thirteen nominations, including Best Series, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Writer, at the Emmy Awards to be held on the 15th. Having won three Golden Globe Awards, it is highly regarded as having a strong chance of winning.

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