Why Is the Golden Globes Making American Film 'Minari' Compete for Best Foreign Language Film?

The Golden Globes are unlike any other awards show. Studios submit their movies and TV shows into the categories they think it might fit. These categories are split between drama, comedy, lead, and supporting. Then an initial committee reviews the submissions.

But according to the official rules, members can then vote to accept the studio’s submission or they can overturn the submission and switch the category. You need a 2/3 majority to overturn. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association currently includes 89 journalists from more than a dozen countries.

Okay, got all that? 

This year, A24 submitted their film, Minari, into the competition. The movie is from writer/director Lee Isaac Chung and follows the story of a Korean-American family who pursues the American dream in the rural US in the 1980s.

It's a staggeringly beautiful look at the American dream and immigrant life. Since the family is Korean immigrants, they speak mostly Korean in the film. But it takes place in America and is about what it means to become American. 

This seems like the perfect breakout hit for Best Drama, but according to Variety, Minari will not compete in the Best Motion Picture—Drama... or Musical or Comedy. In fact, it won't be considered for any of the domestic categories. Instead, it will be considered in Best Motion Picture—Foreign Language. 

This obviously created a lot of blowback across the internet. Not only does this seem shortsighted, but it also feels racist and classist. This is not the first time the Globes have done this. Last year, Lulu Wang's The Farewell had to compete in the foreign category for the same reason. 

Wang took to Twitter to voice her concern. 

And she's not the only one, there is a very loud chorus of filmmakers, critics, and other industry professionals upset over the Globes' decision to change the movie's category. Aside from social media, it also opens a conversation about what it actually means to be an American. We used to be a nation proud of its settlers and immigrants who were forging a new life here. 

In such a divisive past few years, Minari seems like a movie this country would want to embrace. 

I do not expect the Globes to go back on their decision, but they should rethink moves like this going forward. 

Let us know what you think in the comments.

Source: Variety