Somehow this has fallen out of Oscar contention, and I have no idea why. Actually, I do, the film played a token theatrical run before being sent to streaming oblivion. It’s a sin because of all the Oscar contenders that I’ve seen, this is hands down one of the absolute best.
The film is the story of teen Chris Wang (aka Didi) who is struggling to fit in. His family is from Taiwan, his sister is getting ready to go to college, his mother is a stay-at-home mom, and his dad works in Taiwan and sends money home. He feels the racism of those around him and has more than a little self-loathing. At the same time, he desperately wants to fit in, looking to connect with the girl of his dreams and the skateboarders he shoots video of.
This film is glorious. It’s one of the best coming of age films I’ve ever seen. Any film that can make this old fart who is writing this feel like a kid and relate is something special. And that is what makes the film so magnificent- the film isn’t about the technology or the things of the moment, this is a film about growing up. It’s about how we relate to family and to our friends and the world. You could absolutely strip out the details of the internet and instant messenger and you could put this film in any time period. Writer director Sean Wang has made a film that transcends time to be about anyone anytime. This is not to discount the questions of race, which are important to the film, only to say that the foundation of the film is firmly attached to the bedrock of the human experience.
This is one of the best films of 2024 and highly recommended.
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