Yi Yi (2000)Movies

Came in with high hopes, which it proceeded to blow out of the water with its extraordinarily brilliant restraint, supremely elegant static framing, and seemingly effortless naturalism. I was enraptured by Yang’s weaving together family and romantic drama with existential and philosophical rumination, plus the range and depth of emotional human experience that the story encompasses. A little boy being bullied, having his first crush, and his blooming artistic interests; a father grappling with regret and professional dissatisfaction; a young girl with relationship woes and deprived of sleep by guilt. All of which (and that’s not even close to everything) Yang approaches with such superlative subtlety and visual grace. A profound and beautifully crafted film, filled with meaning...