Yi Yi
A quietly expansive Taipei family drama finds humor, sorrow, and unexpected wisdom in the overlapping crises of three generations.
Overview
A poignant exploration of family dynamics and the complexities of life in modern Taipei.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- witty
- intimate
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an elegant, humane, and deeply perceptive portrait of everyday family life, balancing grief and humor with exceptional formal control.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
N.J., Min-Min, Ting-Ting, and Yang-Yang each receive substantial narrative attention as their crises develop in parallel.
Yang-Yang uses a camera to photograph the backs of people’s heads, expressing his belief that everyone has unseen sides.
Weddings, business meetings, school life, illness, and romantic disappointments accumulate into a broad portrait of family existence.
The family’s adults and children respond differently to romance, work, education, responsibility, and changing Taipei society.
Films like Yi Yi, and why
A Brighter Summer Day
shared patient slice-of-life drama, intergenerational family tensions, and emotionally precise observation of ordinary urban life
The Terrorizers
shared taiwanese new wave sensibility, layered family relationships, quiet melancholy, and reflective pacing
Still Walking
shared intimate family drama, intersecting personal crises, understated humor, and bittersweet humanism
The Ice Storm
shared contemplative ensemble storytelling, domestic conflict, and compassionate attention to everyday emotional details
Movie Details
- Director
- Edward Yang
- Release Date
- 2000-09-20
- Runtime
- 174 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (709)
Cast
- Wu Nien-jen
- Issey Ogata
- Elaine Jin Yan-Ling
- Kelly Lee
- Jonathan Chang
- Chen Hsi-sheng
- Ko Su-yun
- Michael Tao
- Suzanne Shu-shen Hsiao
- Adriene Lin
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Yi Yi about?
- A quietly expansive Taipei family drama finds humor, sorrow, and unexpected wisdom in the overlapping crises of three generations.
- What is Yi Yi like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Yi Yi as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Yi Yi violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Yi Yi as mild.
- What did critics think of Yi Yi?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an elegant, humane, and deeply perceptive portrait of everyday family life, balancing grief and humor with exceptional formal control.
- Which films are like Yi Yi?
- Films with a similar feel include A Brighter Summer Day, The Terrorizers, Still Walking, and The Ice Storm.
- How long is Yi Yi?
- Yi Yi runs 174 minutes.
- Where can I watch Yi Yi?
- In United States, Yi Yi is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
