A successful directorial debut from writer/director Sean Wang, Didi is hilarious, but heartfelt coming-of-age tale about identity and assimilation.
Synopsis of Didi
Didi Synopsis: Set in Fremont, CA in the year 2008, Didi follows 13 year old Chris “Wang-Wang” Wang (Izaac Wang). As he’s about to enter into high school, Chris drifts through the remaining summer months aimlessly. Whether that be hanging out with friends, trying to flirt with girls, or trying to become a skate filmer. All the while, trying to figure out who he is and what he wants to become.
A Coming of Age Debut in Didi
Making his directorial debut, writer/director Sean Wang crafts Didi as a heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age tale. One that explores identity and growing up. However, Wang also juxtaposes this with a family drama. As a result, Wang combines these elements, creating a poignant but hilarious tale with themes of identity, assimilation, and growing up thrown into the mix. Wang and director of photography Sam Davis shows this tale through naturally lit cinematography. Taking use of the film’s 35mm print, Davis shoots the day scenes with a sense of bright and funniness. Whereas for the night scenes, Davis presents the film’s setting as having a dark and melancholy vibe to it. This works in tandem with the film’s production design.
Production Designer Hanrui Wang recreates the look and feel of 2008, making it tangible but also realistic. This can also see this through the costumes, courtesy of Costume Designer Brianna Murphy. Additionally, editor Arielle Zadowski edits the film with a sense of urgency. This can be seen with the film’s first half, which combines fast-paced humor and teenage self-discovery. The second half through, leans more into the family drama. Zadowski lets the performances breath and take space. Nevertheless, music supervisor Toko Nagata fills the frame with obscure indie pop, with songs from bands like Motion City Soundtrack and many others. Additionally, Gioscue Greco’s score gives the quieter scenes a bit of a time and place.
Performances in Didi
Izaac Wang leads the cast expertly as Chris Wang. Wang delivers a sweet, yet relatable performance. He balances humor and drama at an excellent pace. Wang also administers excellent chemistry with his co-stars. A prime example, is with Joan Chen, who plays Chris’ mother Chungsing. Chen plays the character with a lot on their shoulders. However, Chen’s performance echoes the wider themes of the film. Especially when put up against Chris’ arc in the film.
Rounding out the cast, Shirley Chen as Chris’ sister Vivian displays a very sibling-like rapport. Which creates some genuine heartfelt moments. Furthermore, it allows for the most chemistry to build between the two. Finally, we have Chung Li Hua as Nai Nai. Hua delivers a complex performance as the elderly grandmother. Which mainly shows in her scenes with Chen. Thus, giving us a well-around performance.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to Didi, writer/director Sean Wang delivered a heartfelt, yet hilarious tale. One that juxtaposes that its coming-of-age story and a family drama. Moreover, the film explores themes of assimilation and identity. On top of that, the cast led by Wang brings out relatable performances. This is only amplified by Wang’s chemistry with his co-stars. Overall, Didi is a successful directorial debut from Wang and company.
