Yi Yi

Writer-director Edward Yang weaves several common themes--loneliness, abandonment, regret and reflection, honor and virtue, heartbreak and the unpredictable nature of life--into this leisurely, unadorned, yet utterly engrossing circle-of-life saga about an everyday family in middle-class Taipei. The father (Nien-Jen Wu) has lost interest in work, the mother (Elaine Jin) is battling depression, the teenage daughter (Kelly Lee) is preoccupied with the melodrama of romantic experimentation and the 8-year-old son (Jonathan Chang) is a pensive, shy boy full of surprisingly philosophical insights. There's nothing extraordinary about these folks, yet their trials and tribulations (many involving the inconstancy of the human heart) form a sincere, melodious meditation on life without art house pretension or Hollywood contrivance. Poignant, authentically uplifting and blessed with mesmerizingly honest performances from a mostly non-professional cast, Yi Yi is a work of subtle, simple genius. Highly recommended. (R. Blackwelder)[DVD Review--July 11, 2006--Criterion, 173 min., in Mandarin w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95--Making its second appearance on DVD, 2000's Yi Yi sports a very nice transfer with Dolby Digital surround sound. DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director Edward Yang and Asian-cinema critic Tony Rayns, the 15-minute interview featurette “Everyday Realities” on the “New Taiwan Cinema” movement, a new essay by Kent Jones, director's notes, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an outstanding film.][Blu-ray Review—Mar. 15, 2011—Criterion, 173 min., in Mandarin w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2000's Yi Yi sports a great transfer with DTS-HD sound. Blu-ray extras are identical to those on the standard DVD release, including audio commentary by writer-director Edward Yang and critic Tony Rayns, an “Everyday Realities” interview with Rayns on Yang and the New Taiwan Cinema movement (15 min.), an essay by film writer Kent Jones, director's notes, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an excellent foreign film.]