Yi Yi

Happy New Year, everyone. I'm putting a bookend on 2025 with one of the most profound films I've ever seen. Over the past couple of years when I've really started to get into movies there were several pictures that everyone could unanimously agree were some of the best of all time: Basically anything by Kurosawa or Scorsese, some films from Sergio Leone or Ingmar Bergman, etc. In many modern listings like Letterboxd's you see Yi Yi every single time. It's been looming in the background for a few years despite knowing nothing about it - cast, director, plot, anything. I decided that now was the time. Many films, especially nowadays, don't warrant a three hour runtime. Some film makers can't seem to understand that a long film isn't inherently epic or even good. Yi Yi is just short of the three hour mark but it could go on for a few more. The amount of substance that's packed within this film is remarkable and the way it's presented is equally so. I've seen several reviews saying that this is a difficult film to talk about and I completely agree. Not only are words struggling to surface but it's a challenge to find a single element to lock on to within Yi Yi. At first glance it's a family drama, but it becomes crystal clear after about 30 minutes that it's so much more than that. Following each character throughout their day-to-day lives, dealing with normal issues, coping with tragedies, growing up, falling in and out of love - it's all here, but it's how Yi Yi explores those subjects that makes them so impactful. I'm not at all familiar with Edward Yang, the director. I've only just looked into him a little bit after watching Yi Yi which was the last film he made before passing away in 2007. Without looking at his age I knew he had to have been middle aged if not older. He died when he was only 59 years old from colon cancer, but you can tell from the richness and layered expressions throughout this film that Yang lived a fulfilling life, albeit relatable to many. One of my favorite things about Yi Yi is how each phase of life is represented. We follow Yang-Yang who is just a boy and unburdened by the hardness of life. He approaches everything with curiosity and an innocent childlike wonder. Ting-Ting is a teenager who's coming of age and discovering herself. She experiences her first love and makes new friends and memories. Their parents, NJ and Min-Min, are coming to terms with finality, regrets, past loves, and focusing on "what ifs". The grandmother may not have much of a physical presence in the film, but the entire story revolves around her, as does each member of this family. She forces them to look inwards and outwards reflecting on the past, present, and future. I've reached that point where it's difficult to talk about anything else. This is a very special film that warrants all of the praise it's received over the years. It forces reflection and provides reassurance in a way that I've never seen before. *List: 2025 Goals & Favorite Films* *Last Review: Aguirre, the Wrath of God*