Lee Isaac Chung wrote and directed the comedy-drama film “Minari.” Steven Yeun plays Jacob Yi, Han Ye-ri plays Monica Yi, and Alan Kim plays David in the film ‘Minari.’ The plot centres around the Korean-American Yi family’s adventures as they relocate from California to a remote plot of land in Arkansas. As they strive to acclimatize to their new circumstances, the family encounters a number of challenges. The video depicts the lives of immigrants on American soil and highlights the difficulties that such families face on a daily basis in a foreign country.
Several more films have championed the reflection on the immigrant experience in a similar and lovely way. In terms of topics and settings, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe are some of the best films that are similar to ‘Minari.’ The majority of these movies, including ‘Minari,’ are available to watch on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Avalon (1990)
In terms of immigrant families attempting to integrate in a foreign place, ‘Avalon’ and ‘Minari’ have a lot in common. The plot of ‘Avalon’ is around a Polish immigrant family adjusting to life in the fast-paced United States. However, there is one constant throughout the film: the family’s grandfather refuses to let go of his past. Aside from the immigrant subject, the critically praised film’s narrative goes deep into American family life by presenting numerous generations of the family on one screen.
Brooklyn (2015)
The period drama is set in the 1950s and stars Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, and Julie Walters in supporting parts. Eillis Lacey (Ronan) is a young Irish woman from the southeast of Ireland who moves to New York. Both Eillis and Jacob in ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘Minari’ move to a new location in pursuit of greater possibilities to enhance their life. In their quest for a better life, both characters encounter a series of roadblocks. The tale of ‘Brooklyn’ is mainly focused on Eillis’ decisions and how the places she resides affect her character development.
Coming to America (1988)
The Eddie Murphy romantic comedy takes a fresh approach to immigrant stories. When the affluent African kingdom of Zamunda’s crown prince Akeem Joffer desires to be more than a pampered royal, he travels to New York. The film may not appear to be related to ‘Minari,’ but when the crown prince disguises himself as a regular student and begins living a commoner’s life, the problems of immigrants are seen through his eyes and correspond with those presented in ‘Minari.’ The video also depicts how a person’s financial situation can influence how others perceive them.
Vladimir Ivanoff, a circus saxophone who defected to the United States as part of a circus company sent to perform in New York City, is played by Robin Williams. ‘Moscow on the Hudson,’ like ‘Minari,’ draws parallels between the protagonists’ pre- and post-movement circumstances. Through hilarious conversations and wild gestures, Robin Williams brilliantly portrays a newcomer in the United States, making this lovable film an engaging watch. Although the film earned mixed reviews from critics and had minor box office success, it remains a fan favorite among Robin Williams’ followers.
The Immigrant (2013)
Two Polish sisters, Ewa (Marion Cotillard) and Magda (Angela Sarafyan), are immigrants at Ellis Island, New York, in this James Gray-directed drama set in the 1920s. The sisters in ‘The Immigrant,’ like the Yi family in ‘Minari,’ are seeking a better life in the United States. The sisters encounter a steady stream of hardships and tribulations as they adjust to life in America after fleeing their damaged country in post-World War I Poland. Prostitution is also depicted in the film, as well as betrayals from family members. The film is worth watching because of its gripping tale, which is peppered with challenges that immigrants experience.
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
Wayne Wang’s film ‘The Joy Luck Club’ is based on Amy Tan’s novel of the same name, for which she also co-wrote the screenplay. The plot centres around first-generation Chinese-American girls’ relationships with their Chinese immigrant mothers. The four mother-daughter couples shown in the film have four distinct dynamics.
The Joy Luck Club, where the women play Mahjong and discuss their life tales, is formed by the mothers in these pairings, who are generally friends. They also have the same ambitions for their girls’ achievement. The girls’ stories are filled with fears, feelings of inadequacy, and failures of their own. Because both films depict diverse facets of Asian immigrant family lives, the heartwarming film is especially similar to ‘Minari.’
The Namesake (2006)
‘The Namesake,’ based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel of the same name, is similarly about a family striving to integrate into their new life as immigrants, much like the Yi family in ‘Minari.’ The film highlights the disparities between Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli (Irrfan Khan and Tabu), first-generation immigrants from Kolkata, and their American-born children Gogol (Kal Penn) and Sonia (Sahira Nair). Gogol’s path of appreciating and accepting his family’s culture and his own ancestry is chronicled in this story. ‘The Namesake’ has won numerous awards for its incredible storyline and outstanding acting.
