Dìdi
Summary
On the placard for Focus Features ’ latestcoming - of - long time drama , Dìdi ( 2024 ) , the tagline register “ for anyone who ’s ever been a adolescent . ” I have to wonder if that was meant as a nice commitment or a abominable reflexion on the annoyances of dealing with teenagers . compose and aim by Sean Wang , his feature - length directorial debut pertain on these cumbersome years by centering on an Asiatic American son develop up in the 2000s . With it come comment on identity operator , family , friendship , and more . Occasionally humorous but mostly chafe , Dìdirequires great solitaire from those of us who ’ve grow weary of this musical genre .
Cast
The story follows Chris “ Wang Wang ” ( Izaac Wang ) during the summer of 2008 — right before he record high schoolhouse . The 13 - year - old Taiwanese American has hassle maintaining friendship , getting along with his sister Vivian ( Shirley Chen ) , and developing the courage to take out his crush Madi ( Mahaela Park ) . In between handling all these human relationship , his biggest dream is to become a great skateboard filmmaker . He has a supportive female parent , Chungsing ( Joan Chen ) and Nai Nai ( Chang Li Hua ) , who , in their own ways , want to see him succeed . Despite the supportive base in place , Chris feels as lost as ever .
Dìdi author and director Sean Wang talk about the brainchild for his new film , casting Izaac Wang , and his mother ’s thoughts on the tarradiddle at SXSW .
Dìdi’s Formulaic Storytelling Leads To An Unfocused & Frustrating Watching Experience
There are too many lazy jokes
Like themany coming - of - age filmsbefore it , Dìdifollows the music genre recipe where it ’s the typical angry teenager against the reality . He ’s the ill-chosen one among his friends , the dissatisfactory and underachieving sib , and he ’s just hold a full conversation with a girlfriend outside his family line . And like the main characters in these film , Wang Wang is yokelish , uses offensive language , and lies to build friendly relationship with the great unwashed . Wang presses it further by using lazy jokes full of misogyny , racism , and homophobia — something I ’m certain he can fault on the filmtaking place in the late 2000s .
For a film calledDìdi(the rendering from Mandarin mean " little sidekick " ) , it rarely showcases him as such .
Another ingredient of the script that did n’t work for me is the focus on Chris ’ relationship with his friends over his household . For a film calledDìdi(the translation from Mandarin means " little brother " ) , it rarely showcases him as such . Furthermore , the relationship between Chris and Vivian take a drastic twist . They were screaming at the top of their lungs and hurling insults at one another at the commencement , and near the film ’s 2d half , it all changed . This felt emotionally manipulative and contrived ; it did n’t make sense reckon where their fibre stood with one another .
Dìdi’s Script Uses Humor Where Authentic Emotion Would’ve Worked Best
Most of what I did n’t wish about Wang’sfeature debutcould be forgiven if the ideas and themes demo throughout were actually explored . I often finger as if the more serious minute were undercut by the need to sum up in jokes wherever possible , which made it a thwarting watch . At least the cast did their jobs , supply entertaining and attentive performance . Izaac Wang and Joan Chen are the standouts here . Had the film focused on their kinship , this would ’ve been a different movie completely , and perhaps a more enjoyable one .
There ’s no abnegate this is a film capable of winning interview of all types with its inherent good luck charm , mood , and nostalgia . For me , however , this was 91 minute of unfocused , chaotic vigour that I did not relish . Tonally , the movie is all over the position , while its root word are explored with timid capital punishment . Thanks to some questionable reference decisions and actions , it ’s an all - around misfire . If Wang ’s end destination for us was to amount to the overwhelming conclusion that adolescent are terrible , this was a caper well done .
Dìdi is now playing in theaters nationwide . The flick is 93 minutes long and betray radius for language throughout , intimate cloth , and drug and intoxicant use – all demand teens .
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During the summer before starting high school , 13 - class - old Chris Wang pilot the complexities of adolescence in a Northern California suburban area . As he experiments with skating , social media , and first crushes , he also cope with family dynamic and the pressures of maturate up as a Taiwanese American . The story explores Chris ’s journey of self - uncovering , filled with both humor and dear moments , while foreground the cultural and emotional challenges he faces.
