Opening Night: Dìdi (弟弟)
Guests Expected
Director Sean Wang, producer Josh Peters and Valerie Bush, plus additional cast members to be announced.
Description
Sean Wang‘s auspicious, semi-autobiographical feature debut centers on a universally recognizable phase of adolescence — that moment we begin the lifelong process of self-determination. Set in 2008 Fremont, this Sundance audience award winner follows 13-year-old Taiwanese American Chris (Izaac Wang) in the fleeting months prior to freshman year as he clumsily pursues his first crush, nurtures his passions for filming and skating, and experiments with the dawning intensity of online relationships via AIM chat and MySpace. At home, Chris’s college-bound sister Vivian (Shirley Chen) and weary mother Chunsing (an illuminating Joan Chen) annoy him, while his acerbic grandma Nai Nai (Chang Li Hua, the director’s real-life grandmother) frets over his diet. All three women draw his ire as Chris stumbles through a series of hilarious coming-of-age situations. Nuanced and tender, Wang‘s film is a layered exploration of learning to love oneself against the Darwinian backdrop of teenage cliques, cultural conformity, and the maddening frustrations of growing up.
Opening Night Film + Party
Join us for our Opening Night Film + Party as we kick off the 67th San Francisco International Film Festival with Dìdi (弟弟) from SFFILM-supported filmmaker Sean Wang. Tickets to the 7 pm PT screening at the Premier Theater include admission to both the film and 9 pm Party at 308 Gallery. Tickets to the 8 pm PT screening at the Marina Theatre, which do not include admission to the Opening Night Party, are also available.
Recommended for ages 14 and up.
Presented in Partnership with
Film Community Partner
Among Fremont native Sean Wang‘s films is his latest short Nai Nai and Wài Pó (Festival 2023), which was nominated for a Best Documentary Short Film Academy Award®. His debut feature, Dìdi, won the Sundance Film Festival’s US Dramatic audience award and a US Special Jury Award for its ensemble. It is the recipient of support from SFFILM Rainin Grant, SFFILM Invest, and SFFILM Dolby Institute Fellowship.
Film Details
Language English, Mandarin
Original Language Title Dìdi (弟弟)
Year 2023
Premiere California
Runtime 90
Country USA
Director Sean Wang
Executive Producer Vertel Scott, Thomas Whitmore, Chris Quintos, Tyler Boehm, Robina Riccitiello, Joan Chen, Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, Dave A. Liu, Jennifer J. Pritzker, Lisa Chanoff, Sakurako Fisher
Producer Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush, Sean Wang
Writer Sean Wang
Editor Arielle Zakowski
Cinematographer Sam Davis
Music Giosuè Greco
Cast Izaac Wang, Shirley Chen, Chang Li Hua, Joan Chen
Closed Captions Closed Captions are confirmed for this program
Audio Description Audio Descriptions are confirmed for this program
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation American Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this film
