I find myself largely at odds with the overwhelming and unanimous praise that "Yi Yi" has won. While my reaction to the film was positive, my enthusiasm is far cooler than most.
There is nothing innovative about "Yi Yi". True, not many movies observe the trials and tribulations of a pretty ordinary family. The fact that Yang does this for close on three hours while holding ones interest certainly is an indication of his directorial skills, as are the convincing performances by all. But when it's all over not a lot remains. Ordinary lives can been fascinating when perceived with an astuteness which is informative and enriching for the viewer. That is not the case with "Yi Yi". The characters are portrayed with a certain compassion and affection, but far less is gleaned than one would expect having given close to three hours of ones times to the film.
My guess is that the supposed foreignness of a Taipei family holds much attraction for western audiences, though nothing in their behavior highlights any appreciable difference between east and west. This adds to the film's accessibility.
Prior to his Hollywood career, Ang Lee's "Eat Drink Man Woman" was too an observation of a Tapei family and vastly superior in all ways to "Yi Yi". Lee's film was indeed an emotionally and culturally enriching experience.
My attention was drawn to this film by the vast amount of rave reviews it received. It is difficult to remain impartial to such endorsement, hard as one may try and naturally my expectations were high.
While worth watching, I feel it's a case of less than meets the eye.
There is nothing innovative about "Yi Yi". True, not many movies observe the trials and tribulations of a pretty ordinary family. The fact that Yang does this for close on three hours while holding ones interest certainly is an indication of his directorial skills, as are the convincing performances by all. But when it's all over not a lot remains. Ordinary lives can been fascinating when perceived with an astuteness which is informative and enriching for the viewer. That is not the case with "Yi Yi". The characters are portrayed with a certain compassion and affection, but far less is gleaned than one would expect having given close to three hours of ones times to the film.
My guess is that the supposed foreignness of a Taipei family holds much attraction for western audiences, though nothing in their behavior highlights any appreciable difference between east and west. This adds to the film's accessibility.
Prior to his Hollywood career, Ang Lee's "Eat Drink Man Woman" was too an observation of a Tapei family and vastly superior in all ways to "Yi Yi". Lee's film was indeed an emotionally and culturally enriching experience.
My attention was drawn to this film by the vast amount of rave reviews it received. It is difficult to remain impartial to such endorsement, hard as one may try and naturally my expectations were high.
While worth watching, I feel it's a case of less than meets the eye.