‘Dìdi’ heals our middle school self
No matter how old you get, your middle school self is hidden deep inside of you. Maybe you have forgotten the details of your pre-teen years or maybe you remember them all too well. Regardless, you will be refamiliarized with who you were at the time, after you watch the film, “Dìdi”.
“Dìdi” is a compelling and painfully truthful depiction of how it feels to be a pre-teen navigating the world and trying to find some solace in who you are growing up to be.
Based on his life experience, Sean Wang’s directorial debut available on Amazon Prime, follows the life of Chris Wang, a 13-year-old Asian American living in the Bay Area as he struggles with the complexity of being a first generation immigrant and wanting to fit in. As Chris tries to enjoy a carefree summer, he is met with an identity crisis as he learns how to maintain friendships and discover new ones, awkwardly and courageously flirt, deal with the bitterness of racism in his daily life, and how to love his mom despite his typical teenage angst.
From being rivals with his sister to embarrassing interactions with the prettiest girl at school, “Dìdi” is undeniably relatable with its realistic awkwardness and the desperate desire to fit in, that fills the hallways of every middle school. “Dìdi” beautifully encapsulates a universal experience of growing up which offers some comfort and validation to those experiences that felt so life-consuming at a young age. The film’s masterful ability to balance emotional weight and comedy is incredibly natural.
I found myself crying because I remembered moments similar to what was portrayed on the screen and because I couldn’t stop laughing from the effortless humility that brought the film to life. As Chris went about his life discovering new experiences both heartbreaking and exciting, there was never a dull moment in the film. From start to finish, the film beautifully portrayed immigrant family dynamics and the questioning of one’s identity. Purposefully connecting everyone who carried the same emotional weight as Chris.
As the credits rolled and the lights of the theater exposed the mascara and tears running down my face, the only person I could think of was who I used to be. I felt a sense of relief for my inner child. Finally she felt heard and could see herself in a way that made those years not feel so lonely, because someone out there was living it too.
