Narratio partnered with A24 to make available a special advance screening of their film, MINARI. The screening was followed by a taped conversation between writer/director Lee Isaac Chung, producer Christina Oh, actor Steven Yeun, and moderated by Ramy Youssef.

Narratio’s mission is centered on active and community-informed storytelling and an investment in the ability of marginalized communities to share their own stories on their own terms. This mission is at the heart of Minari.

To bring our stories together, we asked our community members to reflect on the film and share what resonated with them most.

If you feel inspired to contribute to the conversation, we invite you to keep up with release details at @A24.

“The idea to grow Korean food while at the same time ‘making it’ in America struck me as part of an immigrant's understandable dream to succeed in this country with dignity, purpose and connection to ones culture while achieving financial stability…

The scene in the doctor's office learning that the hole in David's heart was smaller and better and likely not in need of surgery. It struck me as a powerful metaphor for the family--that a hole in the heart can heal, that healing and wholeness are possible even for a child who seemed fragile--thus suggesting that the future seems more certain. This was emotional, unforeseen and layered with meaning!”

Merna Ann Hecht

“Representation in all arenas (media, public life, etc.) is critical to the development of young people. ‘If they see it, they can be it!’

Stories like Minari also serve to educate those with little personal experience and interaction with Newcomers to the U.S. ---- about the similarities and differences we share.”

NSLC Director Mark Cass

“…it reminded me of how it felt to start all over and how a thought that came to your mind once can create a new dream”

2019 Narratio Fellow Nurallah Alawsaj

“The memories this film brought forward were connected to my family's emotional bond with a piece of land in South-East Texas. My grandmother built a house on that land, and although she doesn't grow anything on it (there's cattle), we have family who's ashes have been scattered there and it's said that a patch of sunflowers grew the next year. My grandmother still lives there, and successfully fought off family who tried to get her to leave as she got older. The sense of love and wonderment Jacob has for the land, but also his stubbornness and commitment to it are sentiments I am grew up around.”

Lu Robinson

“As a film written and directed by an American, shot and set in America, financed and distributed by American companies, but with a script that is predominantly Korean, Minari is sparking important conversations and breaking through traditional perceptions of what it means to be 'American'.

The fact that the film is being viewed by awards shows as 'foreign' makes the key themes the story touches on even more important. This story has the potential to encourage empathic connections at a time when people are deeply divided; to strengthen representation at a time when we are experiencing a rise in discrimination against Asian-Americans; and to create space for new perspectives and voices to be woven into what we think of as 'the American story’”

Kaia Rose