Minari (2020)

​After watching pixar's Soul I was convinced it had the best soundtrack of 2020, but then I experienced Minari with it's heavenly score. This is perhaps the most spiritual film, as well as the most American film, of the year. Minari is about a Korean family struggling to build a new life in Arkansas, but it's ideas expand beyond this tale of immigration. As the son of a Pentecostal preacher and also as someone who's lived in the south, this movie hit me with waves of flashbacks. The memories of after church barbecues. Paul, the crazy guy who speaks in 'tounges,' is someone I've met several times. These realistic details became deeply personal for me.  I think there's something for everyone to connect with. Whether it's playing cards with grandmom, going to the stream with dad, or praying with mom before bed - these little moments bursting with life serve a bigger purpose. I heard a reviewer say you could take any scene from this film and it would standalone as a short film. After watching it I couldn't agree more. This film is about American life seen through foreign eyes. It's often eye-opening and always powerful. Thanks to it's dedicated cast who elevate their characters past mere performances and into something living and breathing.  In a year that felt so inhumane, this film is a joyous, tear-jerking opportunity to see humans fight back at the swaying powers of our world. 

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