Didi
Introduction
The era that the English film Didi is set is the late 2000s (2008 to be specific). And you get a glimpse of the era from the technology that the protagonist uses to interact with his friends. You are introduced to Chris Wang (Izaac Wang) is shown to be interacting with his friends on messenger while using the primitive versions of facebook and youtube. On a closer look, you know that the 13 year old is dealing with an identity crisis of sorts having being a victim of racial slurs in a foreign land that he and his family have settled in. Hence, it hardly comes as a surprise that you see him identifying as a ‘Half Asian’ while trying to blend with the locals yet only being a part of the ‘Asian’ circle with friends like Fahad (Raul Dial) for company, who in turn is toxic with his lingo of trying to fit into the alien society. Back at home, Chris is incidently the only male, sharing an apartment with his loving but nagging grandma and his mother, whom he occasionally snaps at by calling her ‘Asian’, along with his sister with whom he shares a bittersweet relationship with. All of these factors interestingly contribute towards the coming-of-age story of Chris who is hustling to form his identity amidst multiple obstacles along the way.
Story & Screenplay
Didi in its purest form can be termed as a coming of age drama but it adds layers with respect to the cultural identity of its protagonist Chris. The Asian culture is essentially an intimate setup featuring a close-knit family that emphasizes on the concept of togetherness. But the moment this culture is placed in another culture that doesn’t necessarily hold a strong family system, it turns a conflict for the concerned characters. The same is true for the Wang household featuring Chungsing (Joan Chen) who is soon about to witness her eldest daughter stepping out for her studies, with Chris to follow in a few years. It is to be observed that Chungsing is a single mother (wherein we are told that her husband has returned to Taiwan to earn, leaving the family behind but we never see him in the entirety of the film), and so with her children on the verge of leaving, it would automatically make her more lonely. She is a painter but underappreciated while literally being looked down upon by her own children. But the same situation from Chris’ point of view is a little different – while in his quest to mingle with the ‘White’ population, he knowingly or unknowingly begins to marginalize his own family while trying to project himself as a hypermasculine kind of a guy. But his reality is way different than what he makes of it in his head.
The family of Chris can be termed as a dysfunctional one particularly with the absence of a father-figure. Hence, it hardly comes as a surprise that he wishes to showcase his hyper-masculinity from a very early age. Yet, Chris is just not that person – he is majorly a loner and an introvert. He is reluctant of expressing his feelings towards his classmate Madi (Mahaela Park) who might be dealing with an identity crisis of her own. Chris is socially awkward even as you witness him freezing when Madi exclaims that he is rather cute while being an Asian, a compliment laced with a racial slur in his books. He isn’t sexually ready too, not only stalling the advances of Madi but also ignoring her and further blocking her on messenger. The only form of escapism for Chris remains skating for which he befriends a group of locals, readily volunteering to shoot their videos for youtube (and remember these were early days with grainy camera lenses).
The proceedings are heartfelt while systematically inunciating the varied cultural vibes of the characters. In a scene, you see Chris’ mother being subjected to veiled taunts from another Taiwanese woman that prompts her to criticize Chris in a hope to motivate him for his studies. This is a very Asian approach that imbibes a comparative approach to studies in order to supposedly lead to a sustainable life. Yet, this further fuels Chris’ loneliness towards his immediate family, so much so that it makes him socially awkward. In a scene laced with black humour, you see Chris narrating an incident involving a dead squirrel, only to be ridiculed that puts him further in his shell. These might seem fleeting incidents but it collectively contributes to an identity crisis for the young 13 year old.
Chris is shown to be at an impressionable age wherein he wishes to blend with folks around him but he is a loner. One look at his messenger, and you get an idea about his loneliness – only two added contacts of his feature in his closest circle with another handful as acquaintances. So when he finally gets around to chat with a chatbot, you understand the gravitas of his loneliness. In the scene, you see him telling the bot that he has no friends (even Fahad had excluded him from his ‘top 8 friends’ on an app) that really makes you feel empathetic towards him. So in a way, the turn of events with his mother (and previously his sister) resonate with the Asian culture that he has chosen to abandon at the start. It is something about Asians falling back on their families who stand by the individual in thick and thin, even as the world turns against them. And Chris learns this the hardway, but more importantly, at a tender age that allows him time to reflect on his surroundings while being caring and compassionate towards his family. The screenplay is wonderfully well penned.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but wonderfully in sync with themes of the drama, that allows you leeway to emotionally invest in the characters. The BGM is sparingly used, almost allowing the rawness in the drama to take over, without being manipulative about the underlying layer of emotions that accompany every scene. The cinematography consistently keeps the drama intimate so much so, that you can easily invest in the journey of the protagonist. This, coupled with the excellent production design that was successful in transporting you to an era that marked the start of the social media. The editing is watertight that managed to keep the length of the drama in check while maintaining the fluidity of the emotions brimming beneath the surface. Director Sean Wang who had previously directed the beautiful documentary short Nai Nai and Wai Po, beautifully takes you on the intimate journey of the protagonist who seemed like a reminiscent of his childhood. In fact, if you were to see his documentary short, it would seem like an extension of this world of Didi in a different timeline. He intrinsically brings forth, a variety of emotions through his protagonist so much so that you just wish to embrace him with a hope that things will sort out one day. At the same time, he doesn’t bog down the drama with melodramatic emotions, instead treating it as a slice of life drama. The direction is incredibly good here and it accounts for a great viewing.
Performances
The performances are immaculate by the members of the cast. Chiron Chillia Denk as Dorovan is first rate and expertly highlights the rebellious traits of his character. Raul Dial as Fahad has a stunning screen presence and does a solid job here while highlighting the mild toxicity through his character. Mahaela Park as Madi is terrific while emitting a pleasant trait with her character who might be dealing with an identity crisis of her own. Chang Li Hua as Nai Nai and Shirley Chen as Vivian are measured heartfelt characters that are intrinsically layered with palpable emotions, and both manage to impress. Joan Chen as Chungsing is a character dealing with the most amount of loneliness and vulnerability, yet always putting up a resilient front for her family. And she is incredibly sincere and earnest with her character. Izaac Wang as Chris Wang is the life of the drama, highlighting his complex vulnerabilities and inhibitions while perfectly epitomizing the essence of a teenager evolving parallelly with the social media, both of whom ironically are forming their identities in the work. And he is fabulous to witness while nailing the underlying set of emotions with respect to his character, brilliantly so.
Conclusion
Didi is a heartwarming coming-of-age drama laced with the conflict of identity, culture and perspective that accounts for a brilliant watch. Available on Jio Cinema and Highly Recommended.
