This season’s first Festival film, airing this week, is the first film written, directed and produced by 30 year old Sean Wang, using first time actors.
It premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award, and the Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble.
Thirteen year old Asian American Didi (Izaac Chen) lives in Fremont California with his would-be artist mother (Joan Chen), demanding grandmother (Chang Li Hua) and older sister Vivian (Shirley Chen). His father has moved back to Taiwan for work and sends money back to support his family.
The year is  2008 and it is the last summer before high school. Chris has feelings of inadequacy and has trouble keeping relationships with friends.
He spends most of his time using social media alone in his bedroom. His few friends are Asians, and his time with them is largely spent in making rather silly YouTube videos as they ride skateboards in public places.
The film is based on Wang’s experiences growing up in middle-class Fremont – a portrayal of the struggles of teenagers trying to find their way into adult life, and the experience of growing up online. It opened to generally favourable reviews.
Some viewers may find the teenage online language difficult to follow.
91 minutes.
Showing at Somerville Auditorium UWA Stirling Highway Crawley from November 25 until December 1.
Watch the trailer…
