Why Watch Yi Yi: A One and a Two...

This epic family drama from Taiwanese director Edward Yang follows the Jian family through various life stages and personal struggles in Taipei. The story unfolds through the perspectives of different family members, including the father, NJ, who reinvests in a failing electronics business; his wife, Min-Min, who retreats into silent reflection after a breakdown; their teenage daughter, Ting-Ting, navigating first love and disappointment; and their young son, Yang-Yang, who captures the unseen aspects of life through his camera lens. The film offers a poignant and realistic portrayal of middle-class life, love, loss, and the search for meaning.

Yi Yi was met with near-universal critical acclaim, lauded for its profound emotional depth, intricate character development, and masterful direction. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of contemporary cinema and a landmark achievement in Taiwanese filmmaking.

• A deeply moving and beautifully observed family saga that captures the complexities of modern life.
• Edward Yang's direction is superb, creating a rich and nuanced portrait of human relationships.
• The film's exploration of existential themes and the search for connection resonates powerfully.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly praise "Yi Yi" for its realism, emotional depth, and masterful storytelling. Viewers appreciate the film's insightful look into family dynamics and the universal struggles of finding happiness and meaning in everyday life. Many find it to be a profound and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

Won Best Director at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. Nominated for numerous awards and consistently ranks on critics' best-of lists.

The title "Yi Yi" means "one two" in Mandarin, referencing a children's counting rhyme and symbolizing the film's exploration of the cycles of life and the dualities within human experience.