Yi Yi (2000)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Anthony L

  
  I was going to state that this is a melodrama of epic proportions but thinking about it its really not a melodrama at all. It is epic though and not just because it's 3 hours long, but because it fits all aspects of life into such a short amount of time so delicately you could be… More
  I was going to state that this is a melodrama of epic proportions but thinking about it its really not a melodrama at all. It is epic though and not just because it's 3 hours long, but because it fits all aspects of life into such a short amount of time so delicately you could be forgiven for not realising how much you've actually witnessed. Nearly every aspect of life is covered, it's never preachy or convoluted or contrived though, the attention to detail is very through too, it's a brilliantly observed slice of life. The conclusion made by the little boy through his photographs is cinema gold and sums up the film perfectly. This is a real joy to watch, make sure you're not interrupted for 3 three hours and indulge yourself, you won't regret it!

• Jennifer X

  
  Much much duller than I had anticipated but strangely, thoroughly watchable. Everything hits you later, in your bed, hours after you finish the film. Its premise is extremely simple but it's a very portrait of a family, their neighbors, and their loves.

• Lanning :

  
  Why are we afraid of the first time? Every day in life is a first time. Every morning is new. We never live the same day twice. We're never afraid of getting up every morning. Why? <p> I'm still puzzling over the authenticity of this line from Mr. Ota. I'm not… More
  Why are we afraid of the first time? Every day in life is a first time. Every morning is new. We never live the same day twice. We're never afraid of getting up every morning. Why? <p> I'm still puzzling over the authenticity of this line from Mr. Ota. I'm not altogether sure this movie supports his assertion. <p> In other words, I'm thinking his statement may be ironic given the way this film goes.<p> Aside from a kind of surprising murder that I'm also still puzzling over, this is a very gentle and fairly objective examination of the very partially understood nature of the lives we live. The difference between what we can do to direct our lives and the way that our lives become directed by forces outside ourselves and often beyond our control is examined in the lives of many characters in this film. Perhaps even more important is the idea that we cannot understand our lives fully, no matter how hard we may try to do so. The clock is ticking loudly here, and it is impossible to slow down our being swept up in the forward movement of time. For most of us, we do the best we can, with what little time we have, and with what little we know or understand of our lives, and we hope for the best.

• Lesley N

  
  Taiwanese drama about three generations of family (though the granny spends most of her screen time in a coma). Slow moving and detailed but it grows on you, like films will when they're nearly three hours long.