Late May Surge #7

Is it a movie about the father? A movie about the daughter or the son? Is it about the grandmother? Is it about the company? Is it about the weird uncle? Yes and No. Yes to all and No to all as well. Its about everything and its about none of those things. Its about life, its about death and everything in between.

This movie felt like a lifetime. Wait. That usually is a criticism, but not here. It felt like I have spent my entire life knowing these characters. I didn't want it to end at all. We are the character of grandma. Being with them through their ups and downs. Holding their hand when they are in distress. Listening to them like a close friend, but not being able to help.

This film's first 15 minutes gave me more joy than anything has in the past year. The joy of a family celebration, kids running around pranking each other, the youth having fun, that one random guy who is sleeping amongst all this chaos who is shaken awake by someone to come be a part of all the fun.

Movies don't have to present you with extraordinary circumstances to engage and entertain you. Yi Yi never shows anything extraordinary. There is no unnecessary drama, no unnecessary plot twist, no unnecessary heightening of tension. But still has a huge impact on you when it finishes.

The performances, the stillness of the camera, the writing, the mise-en-scène all in the hands of the masterful Edward Yang enables the audience to become part of this family.

There is so much more to talk about this film which I will revisit soon and for sure will keep revisiting it often,