Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Didi 

This film is one of the most accurate, emotionally charged looks at what it’s like growing up as a teenage boy I’ve ever seen! Now this film had a profound impact on me when I saw it for multiple reasons. The film is tackling what it’s like to kiss a girl for the first time and trying to come off cool so she’ll like you, the frustrations that your parents are embarrassing you but are just doing their best to support you. Then theirs the use of technology in the early days of YouTube it really just strikes a nerve with a specific generation that will feel very seen when watching this film. Didi is impactful and a film that has such depth to its narrative. 

Firstly, This film takes place in 2008 and tackles such relatable themes anyone in their 20’s went through as that was such a specific transitional time that so many remember. As the film dose not glamorize how amazing it is to be raised in the period of technology at your fingertips it shows the confusing time it is and how one struggles to find their own identity and be happy with the skin they reside in. Now the film I thought would have more light hearted humour as it looked at first glance like a mix of dry witty humour and drama but it definitely leans more into the dramatic aspect of the story which is totally fine but if your going into this thinking it’s some fun quippy coming of age tale this is not that. As it has a very as I mentioned honest take on growing up as a teenager and it shows the sheer amount of storms of feelings that are going on in your heart and how it shifts every few minutes what I mean by that is how you do your best to want to fit in but also be your own person and the film is able show that in such a beautifully raw way. The film is able to show the push and pull look on how children think their parents are constantly putting hurdles in their way and think their just being a bother to them during  a very confusing time in their life. As the film is able to flesh out this touching and at times heartbreaking look into the lead character’s bond with his mother who wants the best for him but so much of the time he lashes at her of being a total annoying presence in his day and you can see she means well and just wants her kids to be happy and feel supported. It also delves into how mentally frustrating it is to be at that point in your life and try to figure out who you are and the story shows the Sheer anxiety of it in such a authentic way where everyone who sees this film will be able to relate to the material in some form. The sheer editing and language the film speaks about a culture that has passed by now and has become in a way a era that people study which is the age of when technology like YouTube and streamers and stuff of that nature was just starting up in the late 2000’s and how so many people wanted to figure out their digital footprint while also using it as a tool for their social lives to make themselves feel cool with their friends. It is a time capsule of a film that really speaks growing pains of being at that age but also the wide range of feeling one goes through at that stage in their life and how everything else in your life feels so scary and anxiety riddled and that feeling they no one understands  what your going through even though everyone at some point has gone through the same scared experience at one point in their life theirs a comfort in knowing so many people can feel seen and heard with this story. The filmmaker and creatives involved really gives a  film that has style but it never feels like a big Hollywood tale it has that small indie look to it while also having big discussions about growing up at the early age of the internet really taking off online and being part of that moment in time. It has moments of sheer sadness, joy and so much love as well and it’s able to bring a wide range of emotions to this story that really makes the story feel so genuine in its execution as it’s about this boy but also his world around him as well and Didi gives one of the most beautifully relatable and touching stories  I’ve seen all year that is one of the most on the nose real and authentic looks at growing pains I’ve ever witnessed. It never felt like it was using ideas and concepts from coming of age films we’ve seen before this feels so fresh and unique in the way the story is tackled  that  stays with you long after it’s over. 

Secondly, the performances by the cast are great! Now everyone was greatly cast it was amazing to see all the actors brought together for this film as they all fit their roles perfectly it felt so raw and real in the way I mean by that is the talent brought to this film never felt like they were hired for a role it felt so genuine. As like the Florida project I keep using that film as an example as it’s one of the best films I’ve ever seen but that film captured live in a specific setting in a way where the actors brought on board didn’t feel like actors they felt like just normal people being captured on film and that feeling is exactly what I got from Didi. These actors all did their roles greatly as it never felt like it was acting it felt like the director put a camera on this small suburb town and focused in on this family and we got to see a small slice of what this kids day to day life looks like. That’s one of the biggest compliments I can give a film is that the acting was so good I forgot it was even acting it felt so natural from everyone from top to bottom but if I was to pick two highlights it would be the lead of the film Izaac Wang who captures the struggles of what it’s like growing up in the big shift of technology as a teenager in such a captivating way. I think he has a bright future ahead of him as he really blew me away with the emotional rawness that was perfectly in tune for this character and he had me glued to his character from beginning to end. The other performance that really left a big impression on me was Joan Chen gives this gut wrenching performance as the mother that had me welled up with emotion. Now I haven’t seen anything else she’s been in but I’ll definitely keep an eye on her after seeing her great turn in this film. As she broke my heart and filled it with such love while watching her tremendous onscreen. Overall the whole cast does a great Job but if I had to pick the two standouts of the film it would be Izaac Wang and Joan Chen who both give outstanding performances.

Lastly, Didi is the most accrete depiction of growing up at that age bracket of 12-13 and trying to find your place in the world. It isn’t a film that just shows the hardships but it shows the reality of how hard it is being in that period of your life where your trying to discover your passion and seeing a film that rightly represents the sheer anxiety of that time so authentically shown was not only relatable for me and many watching the material but I know this film will age well and so many will dissect the story and its themes for years to come due to its strong writing and great direction. Along with its incredibly well captured look at the time it takes place in Didi is heartbreaking, relatable, well edited, brilliantly written and truly the best take on growing pains at the beginning of being a Teenager I have ever seen Didi is truly a triumph. I do hope more people see this film because it is a smaller film it may get overlooked due to so many good films that have come out this year but do check this film out it is such a good gem of a film. 

The film tackles this boy named who is 13 trying to navigate himself through the hurdles of being a teenager and the social and emotional frustrations that are going on within himself

Rated R : Sexual Material|Language Throughout|Drug and Alcohol Use

Izaac Wang : This young actor delivers one of the most heartbreaking and sensational breakout performances I have seen all year! Now He has been making a name for himself as he first appeared in Good Boys back in 2019 and since then has been getting his name out there slowly. But I will say this role in this film cements him as an actor to look out for who has a terrific range that many myself included would love to see more from. As he plays this Teen who is struggling with his place in the world and he thinks no one understands him especially his mother who out of everyone has his back most of all but he does not see it that way. Now he isn’t a bad person but his attitude to so many people around him comes across short fused and he has quite the chip on his shoulder now to be fair a lot of people can relate to being in that similar state at that age. So the way he reacts for the most part is out of anger and pure frustration and Izaac is able to tap into this emotionally lost personality really well as you can tell him and everyone has been through this before so their is not much heavy lifting one has to do with this part that being said he also at the same time is Able to show the scope of emotions one feels at that age. He constantly wanting to shift who he is to be accepted by the cute girl he has a crush on or to tell a cool story to feel accepted by the popular kids and that sheer drive to feel like he belongs is constantly chewing at his brain and you can see it in his eyes. Nothing goes right for him his friendships, family relationships all of it takes a hit as he is trying to present a version of himself that he isn’t and in return his heart and mind is suffering as he has no idea what to do in order to be liked or feel wanted and it is heartbreaking to watch. Izaac Wang taps into a sincere part of his heart where when he talks to his mom you can see his guard up and be so short with her but when he Is with his friends he is more relaxed and happy as he wants to be liked and so you can his personality shift and shape depending on who he is around and that is such a real trait that people do in day to day life and having that be an added element of the performance really made it pop. Izaac presents the emotionally vulnerable side of his heat in order to best showcase this person and he also Is able to show sides to himself as an actor we haven’t seen before and he is heartbreakingly brilliant in a performance that has not much humour in it as it is mostly dramatically driven and he anchors the film greatly giving such charismatic energy and pulls you in with emotional journey he takes the audience on. I do hope he gets more lead dramatic roles as he really shines in films like this that challenge him to raise the bar with his emotional range as he is tremendous in Didi as it is one of the best breakout performances of a young actor I have see in this decade Izaac Wang delivers a truly astonishing performance that deserves all the praise and attention. 

Joan Chen : Joan Chen delivers a tender but beautifully devastating performance! Now she plays the mother of this film and is not a massive presence in the film as she is definitely a supporting part in it but when she is onscreen wow does she leave a big impression on the audience! Now she plays this mom that is doing her best to have her kids get along and keep her mother in law not breathing down her neck while her son is constantly finding new ways to have arguments with her on a daily basis all the while wanting to discuss and pursue her passion as an artist. Now When you see her she has this light and love in her eyes where you feel bad for her as everyone around her is constantly taking their anger out on her even though all she wants to do is talk about her day and show a interest in her kids and all she gets in return is to be verbally scolded. She takes so much emotional stress and rarely blows up as she feels she needs to be strong for her kids and also set a positive example for them Now she plays this mom with her heart on her sleeve and has such a soft way of speaking where all you want to do is give her a hug for being the stability this family has. The way she walks and talks she just perfectly captures the struggles of what it is like to raise two kids both at. Transitional period in their life while still wanting to be an active part of their day to day. Joan Chen also delivers a monologue towards the end of the film that will leave you in a puddle of tears she grabs you with her emotional tenderness and does not let go. She wants her kids to have a better life then she did but she approaches her parenting skills out of love and kindness not from a place of being a disciplinary which many people in her position would of done. Her mother in law actually scolded her many times for not being hard enough on her kids and not having a thicker skin when she eventually tells her to lay off and let her run the house the way she finds it best suits her as she does not want her kids to resent her and to actually have a fruitful and good bond with them. Joan Chen soars in this film as the mother who surrounds her kids with nothing but joy but her parenting style and joy at many times is taken for granted and you can see when they lash at her she sees that she was once that age and went through what their feeling so she gives them a break but it does not make it any easier. Joan is truly tremendous in a performance that will move you and have you wanting to go hug your mom she gives one of the most accurate depictions of a single mother raising two kids I have ever seen her emotional delivery of this character is so real and honest in its approach you can see her applying so much of herself to the character a truly sensational performance that I hope is part of the award conversation. 

Sean Wang : Sean gives a beautiful first film with Didi! Now this man has never directed a film ever he has done documentaries but that is about it he never has done a feature film and after seeing how he did this film I cannot wait to see what he does next as his style and sheer way of storytelling is incredible. Now the way he tackles the coming of age angle with this film is truly genius as their are so many coming of age films I have seen that make being a teenager look like its the best time of your life and as their are amazing times for sure their are not many films that are brutally honest in the detection of being a young teen. Now their are exceptions those being Perks of being a wallflower, Mean Girls and The breakfast club now I would put Didi in that same category as all those films sure have heavy amounts of style but their view of the teenage experience is one that tells the audience the raw truth. What Sean Wang accomplishes with Didi that no other film has in this genre is he shows the true pain and struggles in such a way that he has very little room for humour it is mostly drama driven which is fine but he wants the audience to be able to have a film that they can speak to the feeling of how tough it is to be at that age and feel the pressures of social noms pushing down on you to be a version of yourself that isn’t you just so you can fit in. Now we have seen that done many times over sure but it is all in his exaction of it that really spoke volumes. He takes 2008 as the setting to place the movie in and show the time where the Internet was just taking off and how everyone wanted to be part of that moment of vlogging and trying to make your social footprint known so others would think your cool. Putting that into the narrative really became a character within itself the setting plays a huge part of the film and he is able to express the sheer anxiety of what happens when you try all these things to fit in and none of them work but at the end of the day you have your family and that is what counts. He is able to show the true hardship of being a teen in such a brutally honest way that sticks with you long after you have seen it he shows how scary it is to text a girl you like to have your first kiss to want to be part of the cool kid group and hope you don’t embarrass yourself Sean Wang also dose not fall into the trappings of what we have seen before in the coming of age genre he shows something fresh and new that audiences haven’t seen. Didi shows the difficulties of what it was like to grow up at a time where the internet was really taking off and being 13 and trying to sort out who you are at the same time in such a real way that very few filmmakers have tapped into Sean brought this story to life in such a brutally authentic way.