Korean-American film "Minari" listed as one of the best films of 2020 by AFI

A scene from the film “Minari.” (provided by Pan Cinema)

The American Film Institute (AFI) has named “Minari,” directed by Korean-American Lee Isaac Chung, as among the top 10 films of 2020.

“Minari” featured in the list alongside titles like “Da 5 Bloods,” directed by Spike Lee, "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom," the last film to star the late Chadwick Boseman, and "Soul," an animation starring Jamie Foxx.

The film tells the story of a family of Korean immigrants in Arkansas, starring Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri and Youn Yuh-jung. Lee Isaac Chung made his directorial debut in 2007 with “Munyurangabo,” which was filmed entirely in Rwanda and starred local actors. It featured at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prize at the 2007 AFI Fest.

Four of the AFI’s top 10 films for 2020 are Netflix productions. The streaming platform also took four of the AFI’s top 10 TV series of 2020.

By Suh Jung-min, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]