INTERVIEW | Sean Wang, Izaac Wang and Joan Chen On ‘DIDI’s Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Tale

In latest years, we now have seen Asian tales taking heart stage and telling stunning tales in regards to the tradition that’s so charming. However, we now have seen only a few coming-of-age movies that primarily deal with an Asian boy or a lady, attempting to navigate life whereas near puberty. In February 2024, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang got here ahead with a movie that made viewers relive their childhood and take into consideration all of the silly issues they did. Set in 2008, DIDI follows Chris Wang (Izaac Wang), a 13-year-old boy experiencing his ultimate summer time earlier than embarking on the tumultuous journey of American highschool. During this pivotal time, Chris faces the challenges of adolescence, grappling with emotions of inadequacy whereas discovering the complexities of rising up. As he navigates this transformative interval, Chris learns invaluable classes exterior his dad and mom’ steerage, comparable to the way to flirt, skate, and recognize his mom’s love (performed by Joan Chen).

DIDI has acquired common acclaim from each critics and audiences and is about to premiere in US theaters on July 26. I had the chance to talk with director Sean Wang, in addition to actors Izaac Wang and Joan Chen, in regards to the film and the way they labored to make sure its authenticity on display screen.

Aayush Sharma: The film is a good looking coming-of-age story, but in addition a narrative about how a boy tries to seek out his place on this universe. I wished to know for those who went into flashbacks and relived a few of your moments whereas presenting such cases on the display screen. And how did these moments change you as an individual?

Sean Wang: Yeah, I feel the writing was the place I actually dove into issues that occurred and triggered reminiscences and dove into issues that actually occurred to me. Then it was about discovering the issues that have been related to the story after which utterly altering it. But it began from a really actual place, I all the time had an emotion to latch it onto, even when the film model of it’s means totally different than something that occurred. I feel bringing it to life was actually simply enjoyable. I can write a scene of this child kissing apples, and it might be embarrassing. I didn’t do this, however Izaac had to try this as a result of I wrote it. (laughs)

Aayush Sharma: What was your course of for understanding and portraying Chris’s journey of self-discovery? And how did you make sure that his development felt natural all through the movie?

Izaac Wang: Whenever I attempt to act, and I additionally wish to attempt to be grounded, I all the time simply keep on with this one factor that I all the time say to myself, which is simply be your self. And the most effective appearing isn’t actually appearing. The finest appearing is being you however in an alternate universe. That’s simply how I see it and that’s how I noticed Chris. He was similar to me just some years in the past. But then that, just a few years in the past, me additionally 10 years in the past. So taking that was a reasonably good constructing platform for what different issues that I placed on prime of that, which is how he acted in direction of Madi (Mahaela Park), and the way he acted in direction of his pals, and all these different elements. But so long as you will have that base platform of simply being your self, I feel that’s crucial. And that’s how I managed to, hopefully, not less than, get an natural efficiency.

(L to R) Izaac Wang as “Chris Wang” and Mahaela Park as “Madi” in author/director Sean Wang’s DÌDI, a Focus Features launch.
Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / Talking Fish Pictures, LLC. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Aayush Sharma: As a mom and coming from an Asian neighborhood, what facets of your character did you discover most relatable or troublesome? Also, how did you make sure that your character was portrayed as a multi-dimensional character relatively than a stereotype?

Joan Chen: That’s why I liked the script and the character of the mom. She is by no means stereotypical. It’s actually within the standard creativeness, that Asian mothers are nonetheless like Tiger Moms, actually strict and missing emotion. But this character may be very actual, very genuine. She’s loving, confused, empathetic, and likewise very inventive, and heat. There is a delicate, quiet energy behind her that I really like. It’s not that troublesome half for me as a result of it’s nearly like I’ve skilled it myself, very relatable to me, and a chance for me to precise that facet of motherhood and myself that I didn’t have the chance earlier than. It’s a really actual, very genuine character.

Aayush Sharma: The movie highlights the generational hole between Chris and her mom. How did you’re employed with Izaac enjoying such a personality to authentically painting the strain and tenderness of their relationships?

Sean Wang: I feel it was simply actually speaking actually deeply in regards to the character. I feel each of them, I wrote fairly in-depth backstories and since they’re each seasoned actors and nice at their jobs, it was much less teaching on the day and extra like, ‘Here’s the character, get it into your thoughts, coronary heart, and soul,’ after which calibrating little issues on the day. I acquired to take Izaac to the Sundance Directors’ Lab too and we didn’t actually have rehearsal time for this film. But that week of being with Izaac, I feel, actually simply drilled into him who Chris was as a personality and all of the angst, all of the crass issues that he does on the coronary heart of it, there wanted to be a vulnerability and a sensitivity and insecurity. And I feel for those who might construct all the pieces that he’s doing that’s making him look somewhat bit silly for those who see that beneath all that, it’s coming from a spot of eager to be accepted, I believed that we might be okay. I feel he acquired there in a means that was so stunning and so layered and nuanced.

Joan Chen stars as “Chungsing Wang” in author/director Sean Wang’s DÌDI, a Focus Features launch. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features / Talking Fish Pictures, LLC. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Aayush Sharma: What do you hope audiences will take away from the movie’s story? And what conversations do you imagine the movie can spark relating to the cultural identification and the immigrant expertise?

Joan Chen: For me, I feel the viewers would go away the theater and instantly name their mothers.

Sean Wang: I hope they go away the theater and purchase a T-shirt. You can get it on-line. I hope they give thought to their very own childhood. And once more, simply take into consideration the issues that they needed to study themselves and unlearnt and hopefully giggle and cry.

Izaac Wang:  I hope you observe Sean Wang on Instagram. (laughs) I hope that you simply take away that… Even although possibly you haven’t discovered life but, not less than strive.

DIDI is scheduled to hit theatres within the US on July 26. 

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