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IMDbPro

Lee Isaac Chung

  • Director
  • Cinematographer
  • Writer
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Lee Isaac Chung
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
Play trailer2:06
Minari (2020)
5 Videos
3 Photos
A son of Korean immigrants, Chung grew up on a small farm in rural Arkansas and then attended Yale University, majoring in Ecology. During his senior year, Chung dropped his plans for medical school and turned to filmmaking. He studied film at the University of Utah, earning his MFA in 2004.

Chung's first film, Munyurangabo, premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim. Variety called the film "an astonishing and thoroughly masterful debut;" American critic Roger Ebert called it "a beautiful and powerful film - a masterpiece." His second film, Lucky Life, was developed at the Cinefondation at the Cannes Film Festival and premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and 2010 Torino Film Festival.

Chung resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Valerie. In 2007, he partnered with local filmmakers in Rwanda to create Almond Tree Films Rwanda, a successful film production company and academy in Rwanda.
BornOctober 19, 1978
  • More at IMDbPro
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BornOctober 19, 1978
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 2 Oscars

Photos

Will Patton, Lee Isaac Chung, and Steven Yeun in Minari (2020)
Lee Isaac Chung at an event for Minari (2020)

Known for

Alan Kim, Noel Cho, Steven Yeun, and Yeri Han in Minari (2020)
Minari
7.4
  • Director
  • 2020
Munyurangabo (2007)
Munyurangabo
6.7
  • Director
  • 2007
Abigail Harm (2012)
Abigail Harm
5.7
  • Director
  • 2012
Lucky Life (2010)
Lucky Life
6.4
  • Director
  • 2010

Credits

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IMDbPro

Director

  • Twisters
    • Pre-production
  • Alan Kim, Noel Cho, Steven Yeun, and Yeri Han in Minari (2020)
    Minari
  • I Have Seen My Last Born (2015)
    I Have Seen My Last Born
  • Abigail Harm (2012)
    Abigail Harm
  • Lucky Life (2010)
    Lucky Life
  • Munyurangabo (2007)
    Munyurangabo
  • Los coyotes
  • Sex and Coffee
  • Highway (2004)
    Highway

Cinematographer

  • Between Dreamers
    • Post-production
  • I Have Seen My Last Born (2015)
    I Have Seen My Last Born
  • Abigail Harm (2012)
    Abigail Harm
  • Remnance
  • Munyurangabo (2007)
    Munyurangabo
  • Los coyotes
  • Sex and Coffee
  • Highway (2004)
    Highway

Writer

  • Your Name
    • In Development
  • Alan Kim, Noel Cho, Steven Yeun, and Yeri Han in Minari (2020)
    Minari
  • Abigail Harm (2012)
    Abigail Harm
  • Lucky Life (2010)
    Lucky Life
  • Munyurangabo (2007)
    Munyurangabo
  • Los coyotes
  • Sex and Coffee

Videos5

Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
Clip 2:53
Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
Ones to Watch in 2021
Clip 3:52
Ones to Watch in 2021
The Cast of 'Minari' Name Their Favorite Pro Wrestlers of the 1980s
Interview 2:37
The Cast of 'Minari' Name Their Favorite Pro Wrestlers of the 1980s
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:06
Official Trailer
Munyurangabo
Trailer 3:22
Munyurangabo

Personal details

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    • October 19, 1978
    • Denver, Colorado, USA
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Interview
    • 2 Articles
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Directed 2 actors in Oscar nominated performances: Steven Yeun and Youn Yuh-jung. Youn won for her performance in Minari (2020).

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