The 2024 Sundance Film Festival was a memorable one, especially for “Dìdi,” a film by Sean Wang that won the Audience Award and a special jury prize for best ensemble. The plot centers around the life of Chris (played by Izaac Wang), a Taiwanese-American teenager grappling with his identity as the son of immigrants. Buffeted by the hormonal storms of adolescence and susceptible to the manifold pressures of teenage life, Chris is not always the picture of charm. His need for understanding and kindness is never more apparent than when he interacts with his loving and endlessly patient mother Chungsing, portrayed by Joan Chen.
Joan Chen’s career has been marked by remarkable performances in acclaimed projects such as “The Last Emperor,” “Heaven & Earth,” and “Twin Peaks.” However, the role of Chungsing held a special connection for her. As an immigrant mother who raised two children in America, she could identify with the character’s experiences. She recognized the cultural disconnection between the generations, a situation filled with deep love but also fraught with tension.
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As the executive producer of “Dìdi,” Chen was convinced of the film’s potential from the moment she read the script. She appreciated how Wang drew from his own life to create a story that was authentic, albeit not always flattering. “He had a deep understanding of the material because it was drawn from his own experiences,” she explains.
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Chen was particularly moved by the multi-dimensional character of Chungsing. Not only is she the family’s enduring matriarch, filling in the gaps left by her often-absent husband and Chris’s father, but she also harbors personal dreams of becoming a painter. “I admired her artistic nature,” Chen shares. “Despite her limited English, she is an ordinary woman who sacrificed her dreams for her family and found herself isolated from the world because she didn’t have a job.”
Chen’s real-life experiences as a mother enabled her to understand her onscreen son’s challenges, allowing her to portray Chungsing with genuine, relatable empathy. She recalls how her own children were often told, ‘He’s cool for a Chinese.’ “I remember the shame — my daughter Angela felt she was different and longed to fit in, much like Chris in the film,” she says.
In Chen’s view, “Dìdi” is not about race. It’s about emotions that can be universally recognized and shared. “In America, there’s a vast diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and everyone can be very specifically themselves while still maintaining a shared sense of humanity,” she concludes.
FAQs
What is the film “Dìdi” about?
“Dìdi” is a film that chronicles the life of a Taiwanese-American teenager named Chris who is coming to terms with his identity as a child of immigrants. The film explores his experiences during adolescence and his interactions with his compassionate and patient mother Chungsing.
Who is Joan Chen?
Joan Chen is an acclaimed actress known for her performances in projects such as “The Last Emperor,” “Heaven & Earth,” and “Twin Peaks.” In “Dìdi,” she plays the role of Chungsing, the mother of the main character.
What role does Joan Chen play in “Dìdi”?
Joan Chen plays the role of Chungsing, the mother of the main character, Chris. As an immigrant mother, Chungsing is a long-suffering matriarch with her own aspirations of becoming a painter.
Credit: variety.com
