Didi – Review. By Nick Boyd.

“Didi,” a Mandarin term of endearment for youngest brother, is a coming-of-age film that takes us back to the turbulent and anxiety-ridden age of 13 (the summer before high school) in 2008.  It is based on writer-director Sean Wang’s experiences growing up in Fremont, California.  The film centers on an Asian boy named Chris (teasingly called “Wang Wang” by his peers), who lives with his older sister Vivian who’s about to go off to college, his aspiring artist mom, and his spirited grandma.  The two siblings bicker a lot, though things do seem to improve when Vivian begins to understand her brother’s difficulties and comes to his aid as the movie progresses.  

Chris is an adolescent trying to fit in and find his identity.  He films skate videos in his spare time and posts them on YouTube.  Social media plays a big part in the film, as we see characters using AIM to message each other, along with MySpace and Facebook.  Flip phones add to the nostalgia.

The film alternates between scenes of Chris and his friends and those of his family, giving us an inside look at his often difficult attempts to navigate his teenage world.  Chris is continually looking for acceptance, whether that be with the cool skaters or with his peers.  His awkwardness and insecurities are palatable and relatable. 

Veteran actress Joan Chen as the mom does an excellent job, showing vulnerability, as well as genuine care for Chris, while at times seeming as lost and helpless as her son.  It is a moving and subtle performance.  Wang’s real-life grandma (“Nai-Nai”) plays Chris’ grandmother in the film with realism and comic wit.  Izaac Wang, no relation to Chris, impresses as the lead actor taking us back to an often cringeworthy time of embarrassment and uncertainty.

While some scenes are an attempt at quirky humor – talking fish on a dinner plate, flatulence in the car, and blowing up a squirrel – I thought they fell flat.  The most poignant moments were with Chris navigating how to impress Madi – a girl he meets at a party and develops a crush on, as well as the scenes with his mom, who Chris realizes is dealing with her own failures and disappointments.

Didi is reminiscent of both “Eighth Grade” (which deals with that same awkward time just before high school) as well as “Minari,” a Korean film with a feisty and sometimes scene-stealing grandmother.  It is an accurate depiction of 2008 and the relationships feel genuine and believable.  An indie film worth seeking out.

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