Prodigy Performer Alan Kim Talks ‘Minari’, Teases ‘Latchkey Kids’

AFTER MAKING AN INCREDIBLE FILM DEBUT WITH ‘MINARI’, ALAN KIM IS A NAME TO LOOK OUT FOR IN ACTING. WHILE TALKING ABOUT LEE ISAAC CHUNG’S GORGEOUS KNOCKOUT OF A FILM, ALAN ALSO TEASED ANOTHER UPCOMING COLLABORATION WITH A24.

A24’s “Minari” is an immensely beautiful film about family, culture, and the American Dream. Coming in eighth place on FilmSpeak’s list of the top ten films of 2020, “Minari” owes a substantial amount of its brilliance to a wonderful, expertly-delivered ensemble of performances: Steven Yeun, for example, delivers a sensitive and intricate performance as a father determined to raise his family, but also build something of his own; and Yeri Han counters his idealism, even when it strays into stubbornness, with a realist and logical perspective.

The standout performance of “Minari”, however, might be the one we get from a seven-year-old. Alan Kim plays David, loosely based on writer-director Lee Isaac Chung, a young boy with a heart murmur. In the film, David is not only faced with the trials of his medical condition but the tumultuous nature of growing up. While it’s fair to say that the authenticity of Alan’s performance comes naturally from him being in the midst of his own childhood, there’s also a remarkable amount of depth and nuance to his performance that you rarely see from children, especially from ones as young as Alan. What’s really floored audiences who have gotten an opportunity to see the movie (myself included), is that this is Alan’s first-ever film.

I had the joy of chatting briefly with Alan this past Thursday. We talked about “Minari,” and more specifically what it was like to work with each of his incredibly talented castmates. It’s a lighthearted and fun chat more focused on Alan than it is on the overall film, but it’s also interesting to hear from an actor about their feature film debut, and the experiences that came with it.

Alan did also mention his upcoming role in “Latchkey Kids”, another A24 vehicle that will also feature “Eighth Grade” star Elsie Fisher, who was the subject of praise for that film akin to the attention Alan is currently receiving. It’s more than well-deserved, and I hope it never ends for him. Don’t forget the name Alan Kim; he’ll be gracing your screens later this week and I suspect he’ll continue to do so for years to come.

“Minari”, written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, will be released theatrically and in virtual cinemas on February 12th, 2021, and will see a video on demand release on February 26th. Check out the audio of our interview with star Alan Kim below!