Tag: Steven Yeun

‘Minari’: An absorbing and authentic American immigrant story

Jeff Mitchell

“Minari” – “Nothing’s gonna turn us back now.  Straight ahead and on the track now.  We’re gonna make our dreams come true.  Doing it our way.”  – “Making Our Dreams Come True” by Cyndi Grecco, the “Laverne & Shirley” (1976 – 1983) theme song “And there ain’t no nothing we can’t love each other through.  What would we do baby, without us?”  – “Without Us” by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, the “Family Ties” (1982 – 1989) theme song Writer/director Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari” is an immigrant story about a…

AHFW’s Top 20 Films of 2020: #17 ‘Minari’

Jeff Mitchell

17. “Minari” – Director/writer Lee Isaac Chung helms an autobiographical feature of his childhood – or a small sliver of it – from the 1980s.  Jacob (Steven Yeun) leads his family to the middle of nowhere in Arkansas to start a farm and grow Korean vegetables.  Without much of an economic safety net, he realizes the slim chances of actually lassoing the American dream.  His wife Monica (Yeri Han), her mother, and their two kids feel the monetary friction in a frank, authentic struggle within the home.  “Minari” feels similar…

Movie of the Week: ‘Burning’

Jeff Mitchell

Bong Joon-ho and his landmark film “Parasite” (2019) made Oscar history with his Best Picture Oscar win on Feb. 9, 2020, the first foreign language movie to win the award. South Korea has a long, fruitful history in cinema, and this week, AHFW looks to a brilliant film from Bong’s countryman Lee Chang-dong.  “Burning” (2019) is potent drama that sparks unconventional mysteries. “Burning” (2018)– Director Lee Chang-dong’s picture – which is South Korea’s 2019 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar entry – is about haves and have-nots, belief and uncertainty, clear direction…