Dìdi exudes a special kind of empathy and warmth toward the kids who grew up in the age of Myspace, as well as their families. Many coming-of-age stories examine a child’s relationship with themselves and their parents, but Dìdi also tracks how those shifts were made more jarring and strange in the early days of social media.
What holds it all together is a superbly understated performance from Wang, who is fully three-dimensional as Chris — a decent kid trying to figure it all out. Absent here are all the usual cinema cliches and exaggerations about teen life, thank the goddess.
A wonderfully uncomfortable, deeply hilarious coming-of-age movie, the new film Didi plays like an extended and surprisingly welcome visit to the filmmaker’s childhood bedroom.
It recreates the sensation of drowning in your own hormone-churned emotions so vividly that the film would be difficult to watch if its very existence didn’t serve as a kind of pressure valve. And it provides reassurance that while things may get worse before they get better, this period of life does pass, and eventually you get enough distance to look back on it from the outside as well as from within.
By centering on the start of the film and its conclusion, you realize Wang possesses not only a preternatural feel for the emotional jumble of boyhood, but also an astute understanding of both film structure and how to mine many layers of unforced truth from his troupe of talented actors.
This film marks the emergence of a potentially great dramatic filmmaker, and that makes sense. After all, this is a great film.
You get the sense watching Didi that this is a bit of an apology from Wang to his own mother for not seeing her as a real person when he was young. But that isn’t all it is: It’s a funny, heartfelt movie, tapping into the audience’s latent memories as well as our great relief at no longer being 13.
Izaac Wang’s performance of this tortured teenage soul — so young, still in braces — is a sensitive expression of the insecurity Chris feels around others and anxiety about how he will be perceived. Wang’s performance is mirrored by Chen as his mother, a housewife with an artist’s heart. She delicately balances steeliness and vulnerability to deliver a heartrending performance.
Creating something that feels nostalgic or captures a moment in time is no easy task, but the film pulls it off, largely thanks to the stellar performances.
Both the filmmaker and his cast are breakouts to watch in this Sundance standout, a heartfelt and hilarious entry in the coming-of-age canon that’s primed to find kindred souls in a wider audience.
This film feels really relatable to my own life as an Asian, especially as an Indonesian. The conversations between Wang Wang, his older sister, his mother, and his Nai Nai also feel familiar to me as someone who grew up in a Javanese family culture. The choices Wang Wang makes, and even the little lies he tells, remind me of things I also did. Sometimes I just wanted to look cool, or at least not look bad, especially in front of friends or a crush. Home has always been the safest place for me to be myself. That’s why Wang Wang doesn’t avoid conflict with his sister and his mom. I believe identity is something that needs to be built strongly, so a boy can grow up feeling proud of himself.
'Mid 90s' meets 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies' meets 'Turning Red,' but it's in the aughts.
A well edited but ultimately average movie about another self-centered, teenage victim of the digital age.
Some obvious era specific stuff works well, this timeline basically perfectly aligns with my time as a teenager; Myspace, AIM, seeing The Dark Knight 6 times in theater, etc. I think the family drama stuff is just ok.
Ao mesmo tempo que é muito bom ver a masculinidade sendo retratada no cinema, o filme em si não consegue emocionar: passa como uma crônica banal do cotidiano. Muito bonita a relação do jovem com a mãe, mas é estéril, bem como os conflitos com os colegas, o núcleo de adolescentes mais velhos, a paixão. É tudo meio como um ciclo em aberto, e isso pode ser visto como mérito do filme, por não se entregar a soluções fáceis. A meu ver, tornou frio. Ainda assim, muito belo, real, e não apela.
Great movie and I enjoyed watching it very muchI like this I hope to see more of these films
Izaac Wang plays a 13-year-old Taiwanese American who's enjoying the final month of summer before high school. Well, kinda enjoying. He seems hesitant and troubled more than excited. This film follows him thru his frustrating days trying to get a girlfriend, fit in with any group of friends and dealing with his family. None of the usual coming-of-age clichés are here and that's a good thing. This is more a gentle portrait than a raunchy romp. His relationship with his mother (Joan Chen) is a central part and both of their performances are beautiful. The others in the cast (mostly teens) are not only the appropriate age, they're completely natural and fun. It's a bit frustrating that he can't seem to find much to make him happy, but that makes the film even more special. There are no big revelations or transformations. Being set in 2008, it's cool to see plentiful use of early flip phones and on-line interactions. It's not often that current movies can truly be heartfelt, but this one is a sweet and quietly engaging look at a young man trying to find his way.
Very nice film i like you beatiful film The best was women great wonderfull
Hello. It is a very beautiful and interesting film. I recommend everyone to watch it. Have a nice rest
Went in expecting a sweet, funny junior high story along the lines of “8th Grade”. Instead got a bitter observation of a young teen with a lot to learn about being a good person.
Enjoyable 90 minute film that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It reminded me a little of Mid90s, but set in Mid00s. It was a fun watch even if it didn’t feel like it had a lot to say.
Very underwhelming to say the least. DISAPPOINTING, seventy five characters
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