Why a humble wetland herb became the symbol of a cinematic masterpiece
In short: The 2020 film Minari uses a resilient, peppery water plant as a metaphor for the immigrant experience. Just as the herb thrives in difficult conditions, returning robustly after winter, the film explores themes of endurance, renewal, and the quiet strength required to build a life in a new land.
Minari, or Oenanthe javanica, is a hardy perennial herb in the carrot family that flourishes in wetlands, marshes, and along stream banks. Known for its hollow stems and compound leaves, it is a staple in East Asian cuisine, valued for its crunchy texture and peppery flavor. Botanically, the plant is uniquely adapted to thrive in waterlogged soil where oxygen levels are low, often spreading through vegetative growth as its stems anchor into moist earth.
For writer-director Lee Isaac Chung, the plant served as the perfect emblem for his 2020 semi-autobiographical drama. Chung, who wrote the script in 2018, drew inspiration from his own upbringing in rural Arkansas during the 1980s. He chose the title because the plant’s ability to grow vigorously after lying dormant through winter mirrored the resilience of a Korean immigrant family navigating the challenges of a new environment. The film follows the Yi family as they attempt to establish a farm, capturing the friction between the father’s ambitious dreams and the mother’s desire for stability.
The film achieved significant critical success, earning six Academy Award nominations and a historic win for Youn Yuh-jung, who became the first Korean actor to receive an Oscar. Beyond the accolades, the production was a deeply personal endeavor for Chung, who kept the project secret from his parents until it reached the editing stage. By weaving the story of the plant—which the grandmother character, Soon-ja, plants by the creek—into the narrative, the film highlights the quiet, persistent growth that defines both the herb and the family’s journey toward finding a place to call home.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Minari | Herb, Habitat, Physical Description, Nutrition, Chemical Composition, Culinary Use, & Movie | Britannica
- Also: Minari
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