I first saw Minari at Sundance last January, just before the world changed forever, and despite the years we have had since then, I could not stop talking or thinking about the film – or more specifically, its incredible premature outburst, 8-year-old -old Alan Kim. Lee Isaac Chung’s funny, heartbreaking, semi-autobiographical story follows a 1980s Korean American family whose determined patriarch Jacob (Steven Yeun) his wife Monica (Han Ye-ri) and their two children, David (Kim) and Anne (Noel) moves. Kate Cho), to a small farm in the Ozarks in pursuit of the American dream. Monica and Jacob are at odds over whether the move really makes sense for their family – especially David, a mischievous and sweet 7-year-old with a heart disorder, an untamed spirit and a penchant for incredible ’80s’ pace. As they struggle with their marriage and their future, Monica asks her mother Soonja (Yuh-Jung Youn) to leave Korea and join them in their literal and figurative limbo.
The real joy of the film is watching David and Soonja play each other out: At first David is resistant and insists that she’s not a real grandmother ‘(she gambles, swears great and cooks) and makes rude jokes which involves the exchange of identical fluids, which ultimately only draws the two closer. Under Soonja’s influence, David becomes even braver and more exuberant and picky. In spite of Minari ‘As an incredibly stacked cast, the two actors run away with the movie at the same time, especially Kim, who walks around the farm and swings Mountain Dew in his oversized cowboy boots and displays a staggering emotional range. This is all the more impressive because Minari Kim’s film debut is, and because he’s in second grade again. Before the film’s debut on February 12, I jumped on Zoom with Kim, who was extraordinarily polite and beautiful in a Commes des Garçon button and bright yellow bow tie.
Hello Alan!
Hello!
I love your outfit. Is it a heart on your shirt?
Thank you. I got it when I took a photo, and the photographer said I could keep it.
This is very cool. What was it like doing all these interviews?
I find it … nice? But I get a little tired after a few minutes.
What made you movie?
Probably … my mom said, ‘Let’s make this movie.’ So I like, ‘I think I’m going to do this movie! I think it can be quite fun! ”
How was your first time performing?
It was my first time making a movie and watching, but I auditioned for some things, I think? Yes. I did something with Pottery Barn Kids.
Do you remember that an audition for Minari?
Well, I went to Plan B and A24, and I went to a room where I met Steven [Yeun], Isak [Chung], the cast director Julia Kim, and Christina [Oh], the producer. And Steven would teach me this Korean paper game [called ddakji], you have to make a paper square and rotate your opponent’s paper square. If it turns out, you win. And we practiced some of the lines.
Were you nervous?
I think it was a fun day. But a nervous day. But more of a fun day than a nervous day.
What was your first impression of your film family?
My first impression was probably: “Hello!” to all.
What was the first scene you filmed?
[Thinks intensely.] I think that was when I peed for grandma. I think it was my first scene. No? [Alan’s mom whispers offscreen.] Oh, no, this was not my first scene. This was the section where I pointed to a new red tractor.
What was it like filming the scene where you were petting your grandmother?
I’m going to look at my medicine as if I’m doing a star contest with it. I bring my cup to the bathroom and throw out all the medicine. And then I falsely take off my pants and pee. And this is filled with Mountain Dew. And I walk carefully because I do not want the Mountain Dew to spill. And in the movie, I do not want pee to get in my hands.
So you used Mountain Dew to expire the pee?
Yes. Yellow Mountain Dew.
Do you like Mountain Dew just like David?
Not really, but after tasting it, I think it was pretty good.
Do you think you are similar to David?
Hmm … 2 percent different and 98 percent the same.
What is the 2 percent difference?
Well, he lives in a house on wheels, while I do not. And he had an unhealthy heart, while I did not. We both have older sisters. I also have a dog and he does not. He also likes to polish people, like me. This is mostly it.
What is a good trick you have done in real life?
Hmm. Probably scaring people. Because if I like, sneak like that, I’m like [makes whooshing noise] a ninja. I’m not trying to make any noise. And when I do, I pretend to be my dog, and then I say, “Boo!” And then my sister is like, “Whoa!” She didn’t really say ‘whoa’, but she jumped a little.
Do you ever scare your parents?
Not my sister. My mom and my aunt and my dad can see me from a mile away. Even though I’m a little dot.
Who was your best friend on set?
I think everyone.
What did you enjoy doing with Steven?
Probably we ate, got relaxed, practiced some of the lines, and when I pissed on the bad semen, all the water went to my underwear, so I had to wear others, and then wear my pants again, and then I put it on the pickup to dry it, and Steven was just like, “Whose underwear is this ?!” It was super funny.
Did you and Noel play together when you were not on camera?
We kind of played and watched video games Captain Underpants together.
Is this your favorite program?
Well, not exactly, but I think it’s close to my favorite.
How did you memorize your lines?
My mom would help me practice.
How did she help you?
She said the Korean lines, and I will repeat it, and if I still do not get it, she will as follows [acts out the following words, later translated by his father]: Omma 가 eomma-ga [my mom]; Ile ileohge [like this]; 하면 하면 gidohamyeon [if you pray]; 에서 에서 kkum-eseo [in dream]; 를 나라 를 haneulnalaleul [heaven]; Su 수 있 대요 bol su issdaeyo [you can see].
Have you and Noel ever improvised? Or is it all memorized?
No, not much. But when Steven and I were at the field, and Steven was digging up the giant hole, my screams came from nowhere. He said, ‘Scream more! Harder! “So I was like [whisper-screams loudly].
You have some scenes where you have to pretend to be asleep. Have you ever fallen asleep?
In bed I would pretend I had fallen asleep. But in the car, when we drove to the store, I was so tired that I actually fell asleep. When I wake up, I’m like, “What am I doing in the movie car ?!” I was like, ‘Oh, right, I made a video recording.’
Why do you think David is afraid of his Grandmother at first?
He was not afraid, he was just ashamed. He did not want his grandmother to come, because if his grandmother came, his parents would start fighting a lot. Yes. So he was a little scared.
What did you really put in your mouth at the scene where you are playing with your new friend and dipping tobacco?
When we first threw in the tobacco, it was real tobacco. How did I feel? [Dramatically gags.]
It was real tobacco?
Yes. Disgusting! [Dramatically gags again.]
Was there anything you wanted to eat or drink during the filming?
I would like to drink lemonade. But because they did not have it, I would only drink water bottles. I was fine with that. And because we hated tobacco so much, I would eat the sausage snack. I would put it in my mouth and swallow it.
You can wear very good outfits in this movie. Did you like the cowboy boots?
Well, the cowboy boots, they got tight when I kept wearing them. So I put my heel on where my leg should be, and my leg higher. If I ever did, I would be like, ‘I’ve grown!’
At the end of the movie, your character sees a horrible fire. What was it like filming that scene?
It was awful. Because the smell was so bad. I’m like, ‘No! It smells so bad! ”
Was it real fire?
No, it was not really fire when I was there. They just put in lights that look like fire. And when I was not there, they actually burned it down.
Who do you really want to be in a movie with one day?
Honestly, I would go with anyone.
Do you have a favorite movie?
Probably next door Minari, dis Harry Potter.
You’re already filming another movie, right? What happens in that one?
In Latchkey Kids, I’m coming home, I’m lactose intolerant. So I am not supposed to drink milk or ice cream. But in a scene I think I eat ice cream? I come home and watch TV and order a pizza and eat the pizza. And … yes.
Is it at all like your real life? What is a normal day in your life like when you are not doing a movie or an interview?
Wake up. Choose a random outfit. Go downstairs. Eat breakfast. Do school. Take a break. Do more work, I think. And then … mostly sleep, I think?
Do your friends think it’s cool that you’re in a movie?
[Shrugs.]