This review was originally part of our coverage of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
What Is ‘Didi’ About?
He’s a slightly awkward kid growing up in the Bay Area.
Image via Sundance
And while the conversation goes well online, meeting her in person to chat is much more daunting.
Wang describes making the film as takingStand By Meand making it about family.
And family certainly is a big element of the movie.
Image via YouTube
Wang’s focus is often disjointed, uncertain of what to center on.
Is this really a story about family?
Or is it about Chris growing up?
Image via YouTube
Is it about hisidentity as a Taiwanese American?
The film doesn’t hesitate to remind us of what the early 2000s were like.
Casual racism and misogyny were being thrown around in conversations, but not really seen as a big deal.
But we know now that it’s not the compliment that Madi thinks it is.
Is Family Really at the Center of ‘Didi’?
There’s an overarching theme of family that Wang is insistent on touting.
The result is a somewhat underdeveloped story.
What actually is the surprise highlight of the film is Chris' relationshipwith his older sister.
Having grown up in America, the kids have absorbed American culture but still live in a Taiwanese home.
Cast
Didiis available to stream on VOD in the U.S.
WATCH ON VOD
