Yi Yi (2000)

In the pulsating heart of Taipei, braced between life-altering events, we find the Jians - N.J., Min-Min, teenage daughter Ting-Ting, and young son Yang-Yang - navigating their existence within their upscale apartment complex. Their lives, interwoven with those of an extended family and a diverse tapestry of friends, unfold amidst the hush of their comatose matriarch, Min-Min's mother. Each family member takes turns at her bedside, offering her a glimpse into their lives, a practice that inadvertently becomes a lens through which they examine their own identities and roles in this intricate family dynamic. Min-Min grapples with this ongoing task, while Yang-Yang, armed with a childlike perspective of the world, uses it as a sounding board for his innocent concerns, inadvertently becoming a target of bullying. His penchant for photographing the backs of people's heads becomes a poignant metaphor for his struggle to understand the world around him. Ting-Ting, caught in the throes of burgeoning love, finds herself acting as an intermediary between her best friend, Lili, and Lili's boyfriend, Fatty - a role complicated by her own budding feelings for Fatty. As she navigates this emotional labyrinth, Ting-Ting asks herself hard questions about life's meaning and purpose. Meanwhile, N.J., a principled computer electronics engineer, is thrust into a high-stakes business venture with the enigmatic Mr. Ota, their emerging friendship serving as a backdrop for N.J.'s own introspection. As he crosses paths with his long-lost love, Sherry, the echoes of their past rendezvous resurface, forcing N.J. to confront the choices he made thirty years ago. Amidst this, his business partners act against his advice, stirring turmoil in his professional life. In this intricate tale of love, loss, and life's profound questions, the Jian family embarks on a journey of self-discovery, each one asking, "Why is the world so different from what we think it is?" This exploration of life, framed by the bustling cityscape of Taipei, offers a poignant study of the human condition, the quest for understanding, and the meaning of family amidst life's everyday quandaries.

Yi Yi is a drama movie featuring Wu Nien-jen.

Yi Yi is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Yi Yi on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.