This is the first film I've seen which prompt me to comment about it. "Yi Yi" is the most beautiful film I have seen. It deals with issues revolving around a "typical" Chinese family in Taiwan, focusing on the father, his daughter and son. All of this is revolve around a grandmother who is in a coma.
The father (NJ) was a family man, who had to deal with pass relationship and his opportunist business partners. He as Ota (his Japanese associate) puts it: "A good guy". He is also a rather reserve person, holding onto his opinion without making the other person "loose face". Finally I felt NJ was loyal both towards his partners and family. To me NJ represented typical Chinese "composure" and emotion compare to Westerners, such as not hugging his wife when she was distraught or not being blunt with his thoughts.
Ting-Ting, the daughter had to deal with relationship and friendship issues, at the same time she seemed to blame herself for her grandmother's condition. I felt Ting-Ting expressed the most emotion in the film due to her role as a teenager growing up.
The gem of the film was NJ's 8 year old son. The youngster IMHO sums up what were in other's mind. He was naive, determine, playful and thoughtful and such a natural in front of the camera! His letter towards the grandmother's funeral at the end well, bought tears to my eye. *sniff*
I also like the performance by Ota, I love his ways of explaining things. Could this be the Japanese way of doing business? :)
I love the subtle camera work such as focusing on NJ's wife's confession via the table mirror. Or of linking Sherry/NJ's stories of their childhood relationship to Ting-Ting's relationship with her date Fatty and or with the son's obsession with the school monitor. I also like how scenes were lingered on longer then usual to create more atmosphere and makes the viewer wonder. One thing I did wonder about was the lack of soundtrack throughout the film, why?
This is the first film I've seen directed by Edward Yang and I was most impressed with it and it has prompted me to check out his previous films.
The father (NJ) was a family man, who had to deal with pass relationship and his opportunist business partners. He as Ota (his Japanese associate) puts it: "A good guy". He is also a rather reserve person, holding onto his opinion without making the other person "loose face". Finally I felt NJ was loyal both towards his partners and family. To me NJ represented typical Chinese "composure" and emotion compare to Westerners, such as not hugging his wife when she was distraught or not being blunt with his thoughts.
Ting-Ting, the daughter had to deal with relationship and friendship issues, at the same time she seemed to blame herself for her grandmother's condition. I felt Ting-Ting expressed the most emotion in the film due to her role as a teenager growing up.
The gem of the film was NJ's 8 year old son. The youngster IMHO sums up what were in other's mind. He was naive, determine, playful and thoughtful and such a natural in front of the camera! His letter towards the grandmother's funeral at the end well, bought tears to my eye. *sniff*
I also like the performance by Ota, I love his ways of explaining things. Could this be the Japanese way of doing business? :)
I love the subtle camera work such as focusing on NJ's wife's confession via the table mirror. Or of linking Sherry/NJ's stories of their childhood relationship to Ting-Ting's relationship with her date Fatty and or with the son's obsession with the school monitor. I also like how scenes were lingered on longer then usual to create more atmosphere and makes the viewer wonder. One thing I did wonder about was the lack of soundtrack throughout the film, why?
This is the first film I've seen directed by Edward Yang and I was most impressed with it and it has prompted me to check out his previous films.