Yi Yi
After 3 tries, I am happy to say that I finally get Edward Yang.
I'd been so nervous for this film, as whilst I had enjoyed both Taipei Story and A Brighter Summer Day, both of which having been very well made, I did feel like I was missing something.
Yi Yi has rectified that for me, where in the past I'd been maybe put off by certain elements of Yang's films, Yi Yi drew me in almost immediately.
I'll be real, if there is a film that is perfect, or as close to perfect as we can get, it is this film. Not a second is wasted, and honestly, I think this film could have been longer and I'd still be entranced in the beautiful visuals and story of this wonderful family.
Throughout the almost 3 hour runtime we get glimpses into the lives of this family and the things they get up to, and let me just say, EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER was so enjoyable to watch.
NJ was such a deeply fascinating character, his interactions with both Mr. Ota and Sherry give such an interesting glimpse into this man's life, both in his past and present.
Ting-Ting often paralleled that of her father at times, the scene with her and Fatty alongside NJ and Sherry was so beautifully heartfelt. Her story is heartbreaking but so engaging.
Yang-Yang is genuinely one of my favourite characters I've ever seen in a film, his youthful optimism and just the childlike way he views this world are endlessly entertaining. I wish we could've got more from him (also as an aside, I genuinely thought he drowned near the end and was so heartbroken, thank God he didn't).
I was struck by how universal this film was, even being set in Taiwan, so far from where I live. This really is a film all about life, and it presents each stage in life, from A-Di's baby, to Yang-Yang, to Ting-Ting, to NJ and his past and present, and finally Min-Min's mother. I've never seen it done so simply, but so effectively in a film before.
Sometimes you just sit in awe at a film, and can barely think once it's over, this is one of those films. Just a masterpiece, and I don't use that term lightly.