I’ve been catching wind of Didi ever since it snagged the Special Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance. I’m usually skeptical about films that get all the praise from critics at big festivals, but I’m happy to say that Didi totally deserves all the buzz!
Written and directed by Sean Wang, I read after seeing the film that Didi is semi-autobiographical, and it felt that way when I was watching it. The movie gives a heartfelt glimpse into the life of a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American teen dealing with the ups and downs of growing up. The movie’s effective opening drops us right into a day in the life of Chris Wang, aka Didi, which means “little brother” in Mandarin, a cute nickname Chinese moms often use for their younger sons.
Didi (Izaac Wang, no relation to the director) is a rambunctious kid who loves hanging out with his friends in Fremont, California. He has a testy relationship with his sister Vivian (Shirley Chen) and they get on each other’s nerves at the dinner table which would often lead to some screaming matches. Some moments are very relatable, while others might hit people differently. As a third-generation Chinese-Indonesian who was raised by a divorced mother and a widowed grandmother, it made me feel a bit nostalgic about them. The scene where the grandma keeps nagging Didi to eat more so he doesn’t get too thin really resonates with me; it’s both hilarious and touching at the same time.
Set in the summer of 2008, just before starting high school, Didi discovers things he has to learn on his own: how to flirt, shoot cool skateboarding videos, and mend his relationship with his mom (Joan Chen). I love that Wang doesn’t bog us down with superfluous exposition, we learn details about Didi’s family dynamics as the film progresses. Didi’s mom Chungsing is a talented artist though her son doesn’t exactly appreciate her beautiful paintings, while his dad lives and works in Taiwan.
Wang does a great job of weaving in 2000s internet culture and media, proving that he really understands how the online world shaped kids back then and still does today. The way the kids chat online and surf the web feels authentic. It’s pretty funny to watch them using Myspace, which was the go-to social network of the aughts era… a bygone era when kids were glued to their desktop computers instead of scrolling on their smartphones.
The casting is spot on, Izaac Wang is terrific in his first feature debut. Even though he’s a couple of years older than the character he’s playing, he truly captures the angst of an early teen still trying to discover himself. He tells his non-Asian friends that he’s ‘half-Asian’ in order to fit in, and he’d go out of his way to ‘study’ his crush Madi’s (Mahaela Park) favorite movies. The movie’s tagline says ‘For anyone who’s ever been a teenager’ and that’s absolutely fitting as we can all remember the agony and ecstasy of our first crush.
Joan Chen shines as the family matriarch, working hard to keep her loved ones close while chasing her own dreams. Her heart-wrenching last monologue with Didi is Oscar-worthy. Speaking of Oscar, seeing Chen on screen also made me miss my late grandma, as she was in Best Picture-winning The Last Emperor, one of the first films I saw in the theater with my family back in the mid-80s. Wang’s own maternal grandma Zhang Li Hua becomes the unlikely comic relief as Didi’s grandma in the film. This isn’t the first time she’s been in Wang’s films, she and Wang’s paternal grandma Yi Yan Fuei were the subjects of his Oscar-nominated short Nai Nai & Wài Pó (now streaming on Disney+)
Coming-of-age films are a dime a dozen, a popular topic for film festivals. The Sundance website even lists no less than 10 films of that subgenre from this year alone, including Ama Gloria which I saw at MSPIFF. Yet Didi manages to stand above the pack with its fresh, funny, and emotionally raw approach. I’m glad to see more Asian representation in movies out there and this one is especially meaningful in the way it explores what it means to be an Asian-American kid.
Visually, there are some issues with the often-frenetic camera work and lighting, especially in some of the night scenes, but nothing that would derail the movie. This type of story could have easily been a corny and irritating film, but Wang’s earnest direction and wit make Didi a touching and insightful coming-of-age story.
Have you seen Didi? What are your thoughts about coming-of-age movies?
///
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
I have heard great things about this as I did see a documentary short by Sean Wang about his grandmothers that I really liked a lot. I’m intrigued to see this.
Yeah, I still need to see Nai Nai & Wài Pó but right now I don’t have DisneyPlus 😦
I think you’ll appreciate this one, Steven!
An interesting review. I have not heard about this movie before but it actually does sound really promising. I enjoy coming of age stories. I am also really fascinated with Asian cultures. For instance, the premise of “Didi” reminds me a lot of the movie “The Farewell”. Lulu Wang’s movie told the story of a Chinese woman seeking to reconnect with her grandmother after learning she only has a short while left to live. I was really impressed with that movie which appears to be similar to “Didi”. So, I will definitely keep this film on my watchlist to see. Thanks as always for the strong film recommendations.
Here’s why I loved “The Farewell”:
Hi Hassan! Yeah this one is still in limited release but next weekend it’ll open in wider release, so hopefully it’ll get to Canada as well.
I do love The Farewell! Great review there, I think you touched upon many of the things I love about it. I wish Awkwafina got more serious, weighty role like this one as she’s definitely capable of it. Many Asian actors are often typecast which often prevent them from showing their range, so I’m glad Lulu Wang gave her a worthy role in this one.
This sounds like a movie that could be a darling comes awards season. I still remember 2008 like it was yesterday and forgot that kids didn’t have smartphone yet back in those days. Facebook and Twitter were still new and kids still uses MySpace. Lol! It’s nice to see Joan Chen still appearing in movies. She got the typecast of an Asian actress back in the 90s in big Hollywood films.
I’ll give this one a watch when it hits streaming.
Yeah it was so amusing to see teens glued to their desktop of their smartphones… and boy, I never even used MySpace back in the day! 😂 Yeah Joan Chen still looks amazing and she’s been directing stuff too apparently.
Pingback: The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 102 – The Minnesota Film Critics Alliance
This sounds interesting, Ruth.
Coming of age films don’t always work for me, but when they do it’s profound. After all, we each had our coming of age.
Sundance is a force and this movie could be in for Oscar contention.
My Space… wow, there’s a blast from the past.
I just checked, and it appears to be alive, in some iteration.
Will check this movie out when it comes to one of the many movie channels I get. Another new one just got added to my package.
Thanks for the review!
I hear ya about coming of age films… I don’t always gravitate towards them either, but I was curious about DIDI as it was so highly praised out of Sundance. Thankfully it truly was a good one. I’m hoping at least Joan Chen would get an Oscar nod.
Wow you’re right! Myspace is still active, but only in read-only mode. I actually never opened an account there, even FB I only use to help promote my short film 7 years ago and now my film blog, ahahaha!
I never had a My Space. That space seemed over before it started. Tech professional and socials began moving with great speed at that point.
Hey, I’ve watched all the Costume Noms for the Emmy’s. YAY!!!
Actually, the questions and brief 🙄 how I got in the biz are 3 questions away from done.
I’ll have it to you end of week. I’d like to review and edit. Voting begins on Thursday for 2 weeks. They air on Sept. 15.
So, if you have follow up questions to any of my answers, we have a minute for that.
What fun!
Wahoo!!! Congrats on getting thru ALL of the Costume Noms for Emmys, wow you deserve a vacation after all that, mwahaha!
I’ll be taking a short trip visiting my in-laws in Northeast (New Hampshire area) until early next week, so feel free to take your time. And yes, that’s great that we have some time for follow-up questions, though I really don’t wanna burden you any more, girl! 😀
Glad you’re enjoying this… and THANK YOU for collaborating with me. What an honor!!
Ah, the honour is mine too!
Okay, I’ll edit carefully.
Hahaha – my so far answer to #7
Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, Bobby Canavale, Christine Beranski, Vanessa Williams, Billy Zane, Danny Glover, Julie Delpy, Raven-Symoné, Christopher Plummer, Brian Dennehey, Ted Danson, Vivica Fox, Daniel Baldwin, Wood Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Valerie Bertinelli, Sissy Spacek, Holly Hunter, Sam Waterston and I’m sure I’ll think of more but will stop now.
😂
Have a fun visit!!!
My goodness!! Be still my heart… you’ve worked with so many of my faves!!
Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, Danny Glover, Christopher Plummer, whew!! What a charmed life you lead, dear Resa! But hey, they’re also blessed to have you dress them!!
Yes, I’ve been fortunate. I adore them all!
I really want to take my son to this. He’s 12 and I wonder if he could relate to what Didi is feeling at all. It looks great!
Didi is rated R for language and some sexual content, but I think if you watch it with your 12-yr-old son it might be ok. I’d think he could relate to what the character is going thru.
Pingback: AUGUST viewing recap + Mini Reviews + Movie Of the Month – FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG