‘Minari’ grandma Yuh-Jung Youn wins best supporting actress at the Oscars 2021. The actress gave a humorous yet heartfelt acceptance speech and thanked the academy, her sons, the director and everyone involved in the making of the 2020 flick “Minari”.
Makes Oscars History as First Korean Acting Winner
Youn took home the Best Supporting Actress prize for her performance in Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari.” Young was nominated against Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Movie Film”), Olivia Colman (“The Father”), Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”), and Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”). Prior to the Oscars, Youn emerged as the category’s frontrunner after winning Best Supporting Actress prizes at the BAFTA Film Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
‘Minari’ grandma Yuh-Jung Youn’s Oscar acceptance speech
“Mr. Brad Pitt, finally nice to meet you! Where were you when we were filming?”, Definitely the most catchy line from her acceptance speech. Youn quips to her trophy presenter, who was a “Minari” executive producer. The personable South Korean actress cracks about the different pronunciations of her name (“Tonight you are all forgiven”) and shouts out her fellow nominees. “Tonight I’m luckier than you. And also maybe it’s American hospitality for the Korean actor?” Definitely the most catchy line from her acceptance speech.
Taking place primarily at L.A.’s historic Union Station (as well as from the ceremony’s usual home of the Dolby Theatre), the pandemic-delayed 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday night bring to a close a truly crazy year Hollywood would like to forget but also honor a new bunch of fresh Oscar winners with the biggest prizes in the movie industry.
“I don’t know anything about Oscars or BAFTAs. In Korea, I’ve been in this business for such a long time. I’m very famous domestic-wise, not internationally. I don’t know what’s going on now, I don’t know what’s happening to me. So don’t ask me!” She said in one of her interviews.
“Minari” was nominated for six Academy Awards. Here are the Oscars it could win Sunday night:
Best Picture
Christina Oh is the producer, so she’ll be presented with the Oscar if “Minari” wins. This is the Oscars’ most competitive category, and “Minari” is up against seven other highly-acclaimed films.
Best Director
Lee Isaac Chung
UPDATE: Chloé Zhao was awarded Best Director for her work on “Nomadland.”
The awards for Best Director and Best Picture usually go to the same film, but that’s not always true. To win, Chung will have to get more votes from the Academy than legendary director David Fincher as well as other first-time nominees Emerald Fennell, Thomas Vinterberg, and Chloé Zhao.
Best Original Screenplay
Lee Isaac Chung
UPDATE: Emerald Fennell was awarded Best Original Screenplay for her script for “Promising Young Woman.”
The bilingual screenplay was a personal project for Chung, and he incorporated parts of his experience growing up in Northwest Arkansas. Other semi-autobiographical screenplays have won in the past (“Moonlight,” “Almost Famous”), so the Academy may favor the one for “Minari.”
Best Actor
Steven Yeun
Yeun plays Jacob Yi, the father of the family. He is most famous for playing Glenn Rhee in the TV series The Walking Dead.
Best Supporting Actress
Youn Yuh-jung
SHE WON!
Youn plays Soon-ja, the grandmother in the film. She has been a film star in South Korea for decades.
Best Original Score
Emile Mosseri
Mosseri began the score for “Minari” before shooting began, relying solely on the script. He has composed for film and television before, including the second season of “Homecoming.”
The film “Minari” tells the story of a family of South Korean immigrants who move to Northwest Arkansas and start a farm. It’s inspired by the real-life story of its director, Lee Isaac Chung, who lived in Lincoln, Arkansas.
Congratulations to Minari!
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