Didi: The Next Great Coming-of-Age Film

Adolescence is tough, and Didi , which hits theaters on July 26, encapsulates its highs and lows with humor that evokes both laughter and tears. The film tells the story of a Taiwanese-American teen facing personal, familial, and romantic dilemmas during the summer before high school. Sean Wang’s directorial debut, which earned the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Cast at the Sundance Film Festival, is reminiscent of Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade . It’s a wonderful coming-of-age story that captures the intersection of youthful euphoria, despair, insecurity, irresponsibility, and fearlessness.

Chris Wang, affectionately known as “Didi” to his mom and “Wang Wang” to his friends, spends most of his time with his pals Fahad and Jimmy. In a VHS-recorded introductory scene, they blow up a mailbox and flee from its angry owner, providing a glimpse into their mischievous world in 2008. Chris yearns to be like the skateboarders he watches on YouTube, but his ambitions are often thwarted by his mom Chungsing, who even manages to ruin one of his homemade videos by criticizing his camera angle.

Chris lives in the Bay Area suburbs with his mother Chungsing, his grandmother Nai Nai, and his sister Vivian, who is about to start her freshman year at UC San Diego. The siblings don’t get along well, partly due to Chris’ habit of stealing Vivian’s sweatshirts—a habit that sparks dinner table arguments. There’s a simmering tension in the household, largely stemming from the absence of their father, whose whereabouts and lack of involvement with the family remain a source of significant unhappiness.

This underlying misery runs through Didi as Chris navigates clashes with Vivian, hangs out with Fahad and Jimmy, and pines for his classmate Madi, known to him mainly through her MySpace page. With mild acne and a posture that screams withdrawn timidity, Chris longs for the confidence of his friend Fahad, who easily holds court at parties.

At a party, Chris stumbles upon Madi while looking for a bathroom. She invites him to join her and a friend in making silly videos. Although Chris is awkward, he manages to connect with Madi, who tells him to add her on Facebook. Chris races home to sign up for the social media platform, excited by this small victory.

Chris’ life straddles the real and virtual worlds, and Didi navigates these spaces expertly. Sean Wang understands how kids of that generation were already adapting to online lingo, emojis, and search engines for things like kissing tutorials. An IM conversation leads Chris to a date with Madi, which ends embarrassingly and adds to his social failures. His subsequent attempts to find acceptance lead to both disappointments and the promise of a new clique, illustrating the complexities of forging relationships while figuring out one’s identity.

While Chris’ social trials are the heart of Didi, the film also delves into Chungsing’s life. Once an aspiring painter, her dream is now limited to a room in her husband-less home. Joan Chen portrays Chungsing with a mix of sorrow, fear, and frustration as she navigates her role as a de facto single mother for her “stubborn” children. Her struggles mirror Chris’ own frustrations, and their conflicts are heightened by Chen’s masterful performance, which captures the essence of a woman attempting to reconcile her past and present selves.

Didi is a nuanced character study in a familiar mold but avoids becoming overly sentimental. Instead, it focuses on authentic emotional complexities. Wang treats Chris not as a clichéd character but as a young teenager grappling with bitter feelings and a longing for belonging. The script is lean, steering clear of idealized resolutions for the characters’ struggles. Izaac Wang’s performance as Chris is equally authentic, portraying a boy filled with both anger and a relentless pursuit of joy and connection.

Understanding that Chris’ journey into high school is just another step in his ongoing evolution, Wang avoids neat, comforting endings for the character’s conflicts. The film builds to a climax of both physical and emotional intensity that feels both bracing and inevitable. Didi excels in portraying the confusing inner world of its protagonist, where minor humiliations can feel catastrophic, and small gestures can rebuild broken bridges. It captures the essence of how young people think, act, and feel, ultimately showing that truly seeing others is the key to understanding oneself.

Source: The Daily Beast