Yi Yi is a Taiwanese family drama film directed by Edward Yang, released in 2000. It follows the story of a middle-class family living in Taipei, comprised of father N.J., mother Min-Min, their two children Ting-Ting and Yang-Yang, and their elderly family members. The film spans over a year, showing the family's everyday experiences as they navigate through various life challenges.
The film begins with the wedding ceremony of N.J.'s brother-in-law, where he reunites with his old fling, transforming his life. Meanwhile, Ting-Ting, the teenage daughter of the family, is dealing with her first love and the stress of her college entrance exams. Young Yang-Yang is trying to understand the world surrounding him while navigating his way through a new school.
As the story unfolds, the film digs deeper into each character's personal struggles and their search for meaning in life. Through this, the film explores different themes such as love, family obligations, and generational gaps.
Yi Yi received widespread critical acclaim upon its release and won numerous awards. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and went on to win the Best Director award. It was also nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 73rd Academy Awards.