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James Mottram

4/5 stars
A cute coming-of-age tale, Didi sprang from the mind of first-time writer-director Sean Wang, who successfully mines his own Asian-American adolescence and the awkwardness it entailed.
Izaac Wang plays Chris, or Wang-Wang as he is better known at home. He lives with his mother (Joan Chen), grandmother (Chang Li Hua) and big sister Vivian (Shirley Chen).
Set in 2008, just as Facebook was becoming a thing and kids were beginning to live their lives online, the film sees Wang-Wang hang out with fellow nerds Fahad (Raul Dial) and “Soup” (Aaron Chang).
But this is no Superbad, where there is camaraderie among friends.


All Wang-Wang wants to do is fit in – the eternal dilemma for teenagers from any background. He comes across a group of cool skater boys and is soon ingratiating himself within their group, claiming he can film their tricks like a pint-sized Spike Jonze.
Like 2018’s Eighth Grade, which perfectly captured the pain of adolescence, Didi – which means “younger brother” in Chinese – has moments that will make you squirm.
Wang-Wang is a character who barely knows himself. He is seeking an identity and trying to navigate his growing feelings towards the fairer sex – and doing it all in a very relatable, ham-fisted way.

He takes a shine to Madi (Mahaela Park) and attempts to woo her by browsing her interests online and claiming he is a fan of the soppy film A Walk to Remember.
Sean Wang explores his own Taiwanese heritage in this delicate film that fits perfectly into the post-John Hughes universe of American teen movies.
One of the real delights is the appearance of Chinese-American actress Joan Chen, known for her work in The Last Emperor and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.
Here she gives a soulful turn as the boy’s mother, expressing hurt when he is appallingly rude to her in front of the new friends he is trying to impress.
Didi is both charming and real – a killer combination.

Izaac Wang is a notable find as the film’s lead, and you can only hope this role leads to more as he ages through his teen years.
Wang’s directorial debut, which won the US Dramatic Audience Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, will leave teenagers and adults alike wincing at its observations.
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Izaac Wang in a still from Didi (category: IIB; English, Mandarin), directed by Sean Wang and co-starring Joan Chen and Shirley Chen. Photo: Focus Features/Talking Fish Pictures, LLC.

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Joan Chen and Wang in a still from Didi. Photo: Focus Features/Talking Fish Pictures, LLC.

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Izaac Wang and Joan Chen star in Sean Wang’s Sundance winner about a teen navigating adolescence as kids begin living their lives online


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Review

Review | Didi movie review: Asian-American coming-of-age drama with Joan Chen is a triumphant debut

Izaac Wang and Joan Chen star in Sean Wang’s Sundance winner about a teen navigating adolescence as kids begin living their lives online