This is such an amazing film. Stunning cinematography, which tells the story in itself, and the director really allows the characters, plots and strangeness of being Korean in mid-West America, with the dream of farming and culture clashes arising slow burn to an unexpected and sadly dramatic denouement. Did not see that ending coming.
Korean husband dreams of being a farmer and farming good earth well. His wife not so much and longs to be back in the city. Their son is ill, and really, she feels, needs to be near to good, modern facilities. Their children are caught in the middle of it all, and the husband tries to make it a great, pioneering adventure - his wife is more 'what is this horror?' To earn money to farm, they sort chicks in a factory full of Korean workers.
Unimpressed by the foolishness of the water diviner, the husband starts to farm - his wife reluctantly alongside in his American dream. They meet a strange fundamentalist Christian who though kind challenges their modern progress ways by seeking to pray and anoint the house with holy oil. They return to church themselves but feel very much outsiders - from language barriers to food to who and how they are, and it becomes a place to send the children away to only.
Then Grandma arrives. Sweary, card playing, gambling, home remedies and traditional medicine, secret gardening and extremely generous Grandma lightens things up, tries to make the son aware of his Korean heritage (he wants to be all American or bust), tries to force special nourishing soup as part of his health regime and yet over time, love grows between them all. Grandma unfortunately suffers a stroke and never regains her former dexterity or strength, yet still desires to help and be involved. At one point 'friendly' locals turn off the water supply. And yet they battle on.
So moving. The end is shocking and painfully sad and tragic. I love the way this movie allows its characters and situations to breathe and develop almost in a kind of real time. Without words, it shows the awkwardness of coming to an unfamiliar culture, how friendships can be made and even the healing of a strained marriage. Big themes here - what does it mean to be American?
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