I saw it at the beginning of February. The film reviews have been delayed for a long time, and they must be written before the Oscars! Mainly talk about three aspects: technology, family, and faith.
1. Technology
Many visual choices are quite bold and I appreciate it. First, the composition often breaks the rule of thirds (three-part composition method-divides the frame into three halves vertically and horizontally, and then puts the visually important characters or things on any three halves. This is a common method in visual art and conforms to the human visual habits. ); And in Minari, there are often lenses that put the visual focus on the absolute center to emphasize the point and challenge the audience's habits. Second, many clips use extreme low key lighting (low-key lighting), the screen is extremely dark, and even a black screen for a few seconds; it is also a challenge to the audience's habits. Third, long takes a long lens, no explanation is needed. The last point is that it’s not about being bold, or the scene of the fire is very burning visually (Li Cangdong), I have to say something haha
The next two points of home and belief are about content. The information conveyed is very obscure, so it is very literary, like a literary comprehension.
2. Home
couple
Jacob and Monica often quarrel. Jacob cares about the farm dream and the support of his family as the head of the family. Monica cares about the child's physical and mental health and the future in reality. They said that they had a lot of dreams before they got married, but after they got married, they kept arguing. Children would stack paper airplanes and write down their parents’ wishes to stop arguing. What they call each other is: child, father, child, mother.
But in the end the reason for the explosion was not the quarrel, but Jacob made up his mind to stay on the farm, separated from Monica and the children.
Did you know that the most important thing for two people is not to quarrel or not, but to stay together anyway. This is Monica's forbearance and tearful words, and it is also what Minari's creator said to the audience.
Fortunately, there was an accidental fire. The fruits that had placed great hopes were burned. Jacob rushed into the flames to grab the remaining fruits and vegetables. Monica also ran into the smoky wooden house to move the fruits and vegetables (though I don’t understand your farm dream, and your decision made me Very hurt and desperate, but I still worry about you and understand your heartache, so I also risked my life to move the remaining fruits and vegetables). Jacob heard Monica coughing in the thick smoke, put down the fruits and vegetables, found Monica who was squatting on the ground, and ran out together (this dream is gone, I am very sad and unwilling, but dreaming of you on the farm Between life, I will still choose you...) Here, they call each other "Dear".
They all took a step back under their insistence. They chose each other.
Grandson-grandma
Have you ever thought that "grandmother should be like this", "dad should be like this" and "mother should be like this"? I think we have all. Minari asked this question. The two children said time and time again: you're not like a grandma. What should grandma look like? Teach children to learn how to eat healthy instead of teaching them to play cards, drink mountain water, and encourage young grandchildren with heart disease to take a few steps? Good at cooking? It's clean so it shouldn't smell like kimchi? Just like your mother, persuade your grandson to pray to God instead of just saying don’t believe it? And surely you won’t wet the bed like a child, right? Facing these contrasts, the two children were puzzled. They didn't know how to understand this grandma or how to treat her. But later discovered, are these really important? After the accidental fire, grandma walked into the dark and deep forest. Faced with her grandmother’s departure, the two children went to call her grandma back: they don’t care if the grandma got into trouble, or if it doesn’t look like a grandma should be; the grandma is the grandma, Family is family.
The society's expectations and definitions of family identity are not the most important. What is important is that we continue to love and choose each other. May we not be trapped by these standards, nor trap our loved ones with these standards.
3. Faith
Tradition vs. Relational Faith
There are two main types of American Christian culture (in fact, the world is): tradition/culture, relational faith with God, true piety, and dialogue with God. Minari portrays the contrast between these two sums.
Paul, who helped Jacob manage the farm with him, was talking about him and was laughed at by the locals. He was praising and praying if he came or not. Every Sunday when others went to church, he carried a very large and heavy cross and walked a long way.
For many American immigrants (such as many East Asian immigrants), the way to socialize and get friends in the United States for the first time is to go to church. Monica thought so when she first arrived in Arkansas, so the family went to church. Many people there also go to church because of family or local traditions.
Jacob and the children in the church laughed at Paul for carrying the cross. Jacob stopped the car and asked if he wanted to help. Paul thanked him, but it was his choice and pilgrimage. This seemingly strange behavior actually has a biblical source: “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 ESV “So Jesus told his disciples, The disciple said: "If anyone is willing to follow me, he should deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24 CNVS Here is more symbolic. Following God is not easy and fun but only rainbows. In addition, before he was put to death, Jesus was also ordered to carry the cross to the place where he was going to be put to death. This strange behavior every week is actually Paul's following God, experiencing his hardships, and thanking him for his gifts. He doesn't care about the opinions of others, he only cares about God.
Although for Monica, the church may have started with the Christian culture of Korea and the social style of immigrants, but she seeks God in the helplessness of her life. She holds her son's hand and prays before going to bed every day, praying for healing, protection, and miracles. My mother was sick and always said there was something weird in the room, even if I didn't fully believe it, I went to ask Paul for help. ""Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8 ESV ""Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For whoever asks will find, and whoever seeks will find, and knock Open the door for him if he wants to.” Matthew 7:7-8 CNVS
Later, my son's heart disease got better for no reason. The doctor could not explain why. After Paul prayed for his grandmother and the family, he asked Jacob and Monica if he wanted to help. Jacob smiled and sent him away. He turned his head and asked angrily why Monica told the outsider about their marriage. But Monica did not say.
Then, Paul's prayers, grandma's mistakes, and a fire are actually God's mercy and love for this family. An almost fragmented home merges into one.
Science vs. Faith
Can everything in the world be explained by science? Is there anything in the world beyond human control and understanding? Is there a spiritual realm in this world?
Jacob: Hi, do you still need to say, the water flows to the lower place, my little son knows how old it is.
After a series of incidents, Jacob stopped insisting, he changed his understanding. The well I found before had no water, so I found someone looking for water with Paul and marked the place. They have water again.
The cress continued to grow vigorously. With family and God, there is everything.
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