When I first heard about Sean Wang’s Dìdi, all I knew was that the film had something related to Taiwan. That alone was enough to make me want to watch it.
As it turns out, Dìdi is a Taiwanese American kid growing up with Fremont, in northern California. Having grown up as a Taiwanese American in Southern California, this hit close to home.
The film explore several themes very central to the Asian American experience:
The Missing Father
It’s very common in the 90s (and still now?) for Asian families to move to the US while the father travles back and forth between US and Asia to continue their job in Asia. In Dìdi, there’s a debate about who is really doing the “work” to raise the kids. Is it the father, who is absent, but providing financially? Or is it the mother, who has sacrificed her dreams to physically play the role of a mother day to day?
I don’t remember it being a traumatic experience when my dad faded out of my life once we moved to the US. But, I definitely have some daddy issues. Thanks to my dad, I had the privilege of growing up without ever wanting for anything physically. At the same time, how would things have been different if he had been around in my formative years?
The Critical Mother in Law
In Dìdi, the father’s mom is living with the family in America. She is often at odds with the mom. When the kids yell at eachother at the dinner table, the grandma places the blame squarely on the mom – what kind of mother raises wild children like this with no manners? Ouch. I witnessed my mom suffering my grandma’s harsh words all too often.
I’m not sure if this is necessarily a purely Asian problem, or is it more generational? Do white grandmas also blame their daughters in law for misbehaving kids?
Fruits as a Symbol of Love
In Dìdi, Chris’s mom and grandma are always reminding him to eat fruit, and brings bowls of peeled and cut apples to his room. Why is this a thing? I don’t know. Fruits are healthy, I guess? But it’s actually very cute that Asian parents will cut fruits for their kids as a sign of love.
I remember when I was young, my grandma used to go so far as to peel grapes for us. How sweet.
Finding the Confidence to Be Yourself
Several times, Dìdi tries to be someone’s he’s not in order to impress a girl or cool older kids. In the end, these connections fizzle out, as he’s not able to hide his true self from these people.
This is something many people struggle with into adulthood, and it was nice to see the theme in the film. It reminds me of Inside Out 2, which explores a similar theme of belonging, connection and authenticity.
Is Dìdi Worth Watching?
It’s difficult to objectively judge the movie, because it was so much of a walk down memory lane for me (AOL Instant messenger! Smarter Child! Myspace!). I felt very seen.
In reality though, the movie reminded me a lot of Jonah Hill’s Mid 90’s, about a middle school aged boy growing up in LA in a single parent family, skating, and getting into trouble. I’m curious what the German audience around me, who do not see themselves in the story nor ever used AOL Instant messenger growing up, thought of the movie.
In the end, it was all very mundane. Not a lot happens, at the same time, many small things come to pass.
I would recommend it as a very accurate lens into a cultural experience that until recently, have not been spoken much about. I’m very excited that Asian Americans are making it more and more to the big screens, and I can’t wait for what more is to come.