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Drama

Model Minority (2012): Cast & Plot

Model Minority (2012) movie poster

Model Minority is a 2012 drama directed by Lily Mariye, starring Nichole Sakura as Kayla Tanaka, Takayo Fischer and Courtney Mun. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes.

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Model Minority (2012) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Lily Mariye
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Model Minority About?

The premise of Model Minority without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Kayla, an underprivileged Japanese American 16 year old, endangers her promising future as an aspiring artist when she becomes involved with a drug dealer.

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Cast & crew

Model Minority Cast & Characters

Nichole Sakura leads the cast as Kayla Tanaka, with Takayo Fischer as Grandma Reiko Tanaka and Courtney Mun as Amberlyn Tanaka. Directed by Lily Mariye; 11 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Model Minority

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Plot

Model Minority Plot Summary

What happens in Model Minority from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Kayla Tanaka [Nichole Sakura], 16, is half-Japanese, half-white, and fully American. She and her sister Amberlyn Tanaka [Courtney Mun], 14, live with their parents, Ken Tanaka [Chris Tashima], Japanese American, and Angie Tanaka [Jessica Tuck], white, in Jefferson Park, a low-income corner of Los Angeles that sits surprisingly close to Beverly Hills yet feels a world apart in daily life. When her parents announce their divorce, Ken moves in with his mother, Reiko Tanaka [Takayo Fischer], Kayla’s Baachan, and the girls remain with Angie, setting the stage for a family fracture that pushes Kayla toward turbulence and risk.

Full summary

The whole story of Model Minority, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Model Minority Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Model Minority.

Model Minority (feature trailer)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Model Minority?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Kayla Tanaka's age at the beginning of the film?

Details

Model Minority Also Known As

Also known as “모델 마이너리티”.

Also known as
  • 모델 마이너리티

Seen Model Minority?

FAQ

Model Minority FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Model Minority, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Model Minority?

Model Minority runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Model Minority released?

Model Minority was released on May 11, 2012.

Who directed Model Minority?

Model Minority was directed by Lily Mariye.

More films by Lily Mariye

Who is in the cast of Model Minority?

Model Minority stars Nichole Sakura as Kayla Tanaka, Takayo Fischer as Grandma Reiko Tanaka and Courtney Mun as Amberlyn Tanaka, among 11 credited actors.

Does Model Minority have a post-credit scene?

No. Model Minority has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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