Press Release USHE Press Release: Didi (2024) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

​ WITH A 96% ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE, CRITICS AGREE: DÌDI (弟弟) IS A HILARIOUS AND MUST-SEE COMING-OF-AGE STORY ARRIVING AT HOME FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME OWN OR RENT TODAY ON DIGITAL THE ONLY WAY TO WATCH AT HOME WHILE STILL IN THEATERS ​ ​

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ OCTOBER 29, 2024 OWN WITH EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT. PRE-ORDER NOW. FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

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Universal City, California, September 3, 2024 – Relive your adolescence in this year’s funny and heartwarming story in Focus Features’ Dìdi (弟弟). The film celebrated its World Premiere earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it took home both the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast. The film, which is currently Certified Fresh with a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, is available for the first time exclusively on digital platforms to own or rent, and available to own on Blu-ray™ October 29, 2024 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Masterfully directed by Academy Award® nominee and first-time feature filmmaker Sean Wang (Nai Nai & Wài Pó), Dìdi (弟弟) stars Izaac Wang (Good Boys, Raya and the Last Dragon), Joan Chen (Judge Dredd), Shirley Chen (Quiz Lady), and Chang Li Hua (Nai Nai & Wài Pó). In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy (Izaac Wang) learns what his family can't teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom. EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURE TO OWN ONLY ON DIGITAL & BLU-RAYTM: The Making of Dìdi (弟弟) – Official Featurette. A behind the scenes look into the making of this unique coming-of-age story set in the early 2000s, with commentary by director, cast and crew. FILMMAKERS: Cast: Izaac Wang and Joan Chen Casting By: Natalie Lin, Nafisa Kaptownwala Costume Designer: Brianna Murphy Music Supervisor: Toko Nagata and Jackie! Zhou Sound Supervision and Mix: Andy Hay CAS Composer: Giosuè Greco Editor: Arielle Zakowski Production Designer: Hanrui Wang Director of Photography: Sam Davis Co-Executive Producers: Lemar Vertel Scott and Tomás Whitmore Executive Producers: Chris Quintos Cathcart, Tyler Boehm, Robina Riccitiello, Joan Chen, Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, Dave A. Liu, Jennifer J. Pritzker Produced By: Carlos López Estrada p.g.a., Josh Peters p.g.a., Valerie Bush p.g.a., Sean Wang p.g.a. Written and Directed By: Sean Wang TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAYTM: Street Date: October 29, 2024 UPC Number: 840418311295 (US & CDN) Layers: BD 50 Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.85:1 Widescreen Rating: R for language throughout, sexual material, and drug and alcohol use – all involving teens. Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, and Latin American Spanish Languages/Sound: English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content) Run Time: 01:33:14

 

[JoeStemme]

Director Sean Wang's semi-autobiographical tale of 13 year Didi(Izaac Wang) takes a simple approach to documenting the few months before he hits high school. Set in Fremont, California in 2008, Didi does what most young teens do – hangs with his friends, experiments with drugs and takes his first few awkward steps in dating. His mom, Chungsing (Joan Chen; very good) takes care of Didi and his older sister, Vivian (Shirley Chen), while their absentee father is overseas on a job. Their paternal grandmother Nai Nai (Zhang Li Hua)is more than a bit domineering, always correcting Chungsing and sticking her nose in everyone's business.

Wang, who also wrote the screenplay doesn't add any artificial dramatic events to juice the storytelling. Like Didi's hobby (videotaping), the filmmaker simply sets out to document a brief time in a boy's childhood. Adolescence is tough enough, but Didi can't help but to seemingly make things worse at every turn saying and doing the exact wrong thing atthe most inappropriate moments. It's what makes DIDI both uncomfortable to watch at times, but also bracingly poignant.

There are no great revelations made here, but DIDI is a sweet (if at times, appropriately crude) slice of life. The storytelling slips into being prosaic from time to time, but, it's mostly a winning effort with a touchingly modest ending that hits just the right note.