There’s something magical that happens to most people around the age of 13. For many, that’s when you might have your first real romantic love. Maybe that’s when your friend group transitions from the kids you grew up with to the new people you meet. And it’s a time when you make many mistakes—the kind that feel cataclysmic at the time but aren’t all that important in the grand scheme of things. For some, it’s all of the above. That’s why coming-of-age films are timeless. And that’s why “Dìdi” is such a delightful film, as it encompasses all of that and more, giving audiences a story to cheer for (and probably shed a tear).
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To his friends, Chris is “Wangwang” (a play on his last name). He’s just a 13-year-old boy trying to get the nerve up to talk to his crush while also perfecting his skateboarding skills. Sadly, he’s relatively inept at both. To his family, Chris is “Dìdi.” He doesn’t get along with his older sister. His father is never home. His Taiwanese mother and grandma are desperate to get him to become a more upstanding citizen so he can do what good Taiwanese men do—go to a good college, get a good job, marry a pretty girl, and have children. Ultimately, Chris wants to be Chris, but he’s unsure how to do that, as this is the problem that faces most kids his age. And though writer/director Sean Wang does follow many of the tried and true coming-of-age tropes with his feature film debut, there’s just so much heart in “Dìdi” that it’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with this story.
It doesn’t take great deduction skills to know Sean Wang has created a fairly autobiographic work with “Dìdi.” There are just things that are so hyperspecific to this story—the 2008 setting, the fact that this takes place in Fremont, California, and obviously, the intricacies of a Taiwanese family dynamic—that feel very singular and unique. And that is a large part of why “Dìdi” works. You don’t need to meet the filmmaker to know his imprint is on every frame of this film. You can feel the care and love, as well as the authenticity of the story. Despite following many familiar beats of other films of this ilk, nothing feels forced.
You can’t have a good coming-of-age film without a great lead, and thankfully, Izaac Wang fits the bill. As Chris, he effortlessly conveys the awkwardness of being a teen. The inability to make eye contact. The nervous laugh. The mumbling under his breath. The pure cringe of saying something to a girl and instantly regretting it. It’s all there, and best of all, it feels real. Often, it stops feeling like you’re watching a narrative feature and, instead, like you’re experiencing a true documentary of this kid’s life.
But if Izaac Wang is great, then Joan Chen is off the charts incredible as his mother. As a veteran actor surrounded by young performers, she never overshadows them or makes their performances feel less than. She really does support her castmates but elevating the already great work they’re doing. And when the time comes for the patented “Here’s Mom’s pearl of wisdom” monologue at the end, it doesn’t feel trite or expected because Chen’s tenderness sells it completely.
Also, without spending this whole review applauding the acting, it would be a shame not to commend the filmmaker, Wang, for finding such great young actors to fill this cast. Each and every young person in this movie feels real and true. It never feels forced, once again adding to the almost-documentary feeling.
But what really sets “Dìdi” apart from a run-of-the-mill teen drama is the heart. There is just so much love and care that is put into this script and the performances that the audience can’t help but feel each emotion as if you’re a member of this family. It’s, at once, universal and very specific. While I am not a Taiwanese American, I can only imagine there is just a whole different layer to this story that will resonate so much more with people who can relate. That said, there’s so much about Chris’ journey that is universal. Well, maybe not the squirrel thing, but who hasn’t done something horrific in the name of impressing your friends?
“Dìdi” is the definition of a crowd pleaser. This is a movie that will fill your heart with joy, love, and nostalgia (even if you grew up before Paramore or the early days of Facebook). And for Sean Wang, it’s a film that proves he’s capable of crafting a beautiful, funny, and at times, heartbreaking drama. He’s a filmmaker you can’t help but feel excited about moving forward. [B+]
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