Yi Yi

Wow this might be one of the best films I’ve ever watched. I actually sat there quietly for three minutes, after the movie ended, just watching the credits, that's how beautiful this movie was. You follow the characters, mainly the father, his daughter, and his young son, and you see how each of them goes about their daily lives in Taipei and what problems they face. Nothing particularly exciting happens, but it has such a beautiful, calm atmosphere, and authentic dialogue, that I felt a deep emotional connection to the film. Some scenes felt like watching a childhood memory, they seemed so familiar and genuine. Because of the often static camera, that always kept a certain distance from the characters, and the long takes, the film gave the impression that you were right there in the film with the characters, acting as a sort of invisible observer. Moreover, the use of window reflections in this film was one of the best I've ever seen. Oh man, and the closing monologue from the little boy… Even though it runs for almost three hours, not much happens, and the pacing is a bit slow (not in a negative way), I wasn't bored by the film for a second, for me, it could have even been two hours longer. This movie feels just like life. 10/10