One of the big winners from the festival circuit continued its gradual release with the coming-of-age film Didi.

According to IMDB, “In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom.“

Much like many independent films, Didi focuses on character development and not necessarily plot. It works very well with this film as we meet Chris (Izaac Wang), a thirteen-year old boy who is struggling through the world of teenagers, preparing to go to high school.

Chris, nicknamed Wang-Wang, lives with his mom (Joan Chen), grandma (Zhang Li Hua), and sister (Shirley Chen), dealing with issues with each of them. He is goin through the awkwardness of a crush and trying to be cool.

Much like many of the kids this age, Chris is not that likable, but you can see the heart of gold beneath his jerk persona.

The film is funny, touching, relatable in every way, and honest beyond reproach. Izaac Wang does a solid job and his grandma, Zhang Li Hua steals every scene she is in. Didi can be brutal to its characters with moments of heartbreaking angst. Dialogue is true to the source and early days of social media plays a role in the life of Chris.

4.5 stars