A coming-of-age movie “DÌDI” premiered at Sundance and got great reviews for showing how teens struggle in a way that was easy to relate to. The moving coming-of-age story “DÌDI” takes place in the nostalgic year of 2008. Chris Wang, a shy Taiwanese American teen growing up in the Bay Area, is at the center of the story. He is a shy 13-year-old who is trying to figure out the complicated world of adolescence. The things that make Chris unique are his struggles to fit in with his friends, his troubled relationship with his family, and his search for who he is. During his summer break, Chris faces typical teen problems, such as trying to connect with his sister, who is leaving for college, and having a bad first kiss. He also wants to fit in with a cool group of older skaters. The way these moments are shown is so real that anyone who has been through the hard parts of growing up will relate. Izaac Wang plays Chris Wang. It’s interesting to think about whether he is based on a real person.
Is Chris Wang from DÌDI Based on a Real Person?
Sean Wang, the 29-year-old director and writer, brings a personal touch to the film by using stories from his own childhood. Wang makes it clear, though, that even though Chris has the same last name as him, he is not a direct representation of Wang. Sean has said that “DÌDI” is emotionally true, but it’s not entirely based on his own life. The movie uses real feelings and events mixed with made-up parts to make a story about growing up that everyone can relate to.
Sean Wang says, “Not all of it happened, but all of it is true.” He takes this line from Greta Gerwig’s movie “Lady Bird,” which was also loosely based on her childhood.
Sean Wang is from Fremont, California, and has Taiwanese roots. His journey began in a less traditional area: skateboarding. He went on to become a famous director. His early love of skateboarding was a big part of how he became a creative person. He went to Irvington High School and then the film school at the University of Southern California to learn more. Wang has worked at Google Creative Lab and took part in several programs at the Sundance Institute, where he improved his skills in the director and screenwriter labs.
The movie’s setting and details, like Chris’s room being full of posters and other memorabilia from the early 2000s, come from Sean Wang’s own childhood. The movie feels more real because it was filmed in Sean’s childhood home, including scenes in his real bedroom. Making things even less clear is the fact that Sean Wang’s real grandmother plays Chris’s grandmother in the movie.
The film feels even more real because it is set in the skate parks and schoolyards of Fremont, California, where Wang himself grew up. The movie feels more real because Chris’s room is full of posters and stickers from Wang’s teenage years.
Sean talked about how his friends called him “wng Wang” and some tough times he had in high school, like being picked on for his skin and having an embarrassing moment when he farted out loud in class. Sean talked about how his relationship with his heritage has changed over time. At first, he didn’t like doing things like going to the temple or eating Korean food, but now he does and enjoys them. He laughed as he talked about things like losing an arm wrestling match to a skinny girl and having problems with haircuts and food.
Instead of going for the polished Hollywood look, Wang wanted to make a movie that felt real and raw. The ensemble cast, which is mostly made up of first-time actors, gives the movie a natural and honest energy. Wang encouraged improvising and tried to show what it’s really like to be a teenager, which is both happy and confused.
Even though Chris Wang isn’t a real person, his story in “DÌDI” is based on real feelings and events that everyone can relate to. The character represents the worries, fears, and confusions of being a teenager, so many people can see themselves in him during their own teenage years.
Come back to tvacute.com soon for more DIDI news, sneak peeks, and recaps.
- IS “DÌDI” MOVIE BASED ON A TRUE STORY?
- Is Chris Wang’s Grandmother in ‘Dìdi’ Based on a Real Person?
