The Golden Globes are one of the highest honors any professional in the film and television industry can receive. So, when the critically acclaimed Minari was barred from entering into the best motion picture categories in February, fans were furious. On Wednesday, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association repealed the rule.
Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a movie that follows a Korean American family with entrepreneurial ambitions that moves to rural Arkansas. The film has received much critical praise, including six Academy Award nominations plus a win, Sundance’s U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, three SAG Award nominations, and even a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.
However, because over 50% of the film is in Korean, it was not considered for the Best Motion Picture – Drama Award.
The rules stated, “Motion pictures that qualify for the Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language award also qualify for awards in all other motion picture categories except Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, which are exclusively for English language motion pictures.”
This decision spurred an outcry from fans and industry professionals. Director Lulu Wang, was one such critic. Her film, 2019 Chinese American drama The Farewell, faced identical roadblocks in running for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Wang’s comment points to the fact that the United States does not technically have an official language, and American experiences do not necessitate English.
I have not seen a more American film than #Minari this year. It's a story about an immigrant family, IN America, pursuing the American dream. We really need to change these antiquated rules that characterizes American as only English-speaking. https://t.co/1NZbkJFE9v
— Lulu Wang (@thumbelulu) December 23, 2020
Similarly, actor Daniel Dae Kim related HFPA’s treatment of the film to the racist encounters many immigrants face.
On Wednesday, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association finally announced they would be updating their antiquated rules.
However, critics say this change has come too late, when the HFPA is already under investigation for its exclusionary practices and finances. A Vanity Fair article quips, “If you’re on a sinking ship—one, say, the size of the ship that inspired a Golden Globe–winning movie—what’s the point of rearranging the deck chairs?” The association has a shocking zero Black members, and many members have left due to its unethical practices.
Wenting Xu and Diederik van Hoogstraten are two former members of the HFPA who outlined their reasons for leaving in a joint letter. They cite the toxic culture as a reason for leaving, writing, “Insulation, silence, fear of retribution, self-dealing, corruption and verbal abuse are just a few ways to describe that culture.”
The Golden Globes will not be held in 2022 as it undergoes investigations.
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