Yi Yi (1999)

Urban anomie and multi-generational growing pains are given rich, relaxed expression in Edward Yang’s heartfelt Taipei family tapestry.

"This stands in for all the films Yang was unable to make. That it transcends those expectations to become its own delicate, devastating evocation of family, using the city and its modernity to harmonise all of its auteur’s most incisive and moving abilities, is testament to his total mastery." Ryan Swen

"Few films speak so profoundly to life at the onset of the 21st century as this intimate epic." Tom Charity

"Elegant, eloquent and alive with the music of its making." Tom Ryan

"The irreplaceable director’s swan song at his peak. This is the kind of film which assures you that cinema is one of the necessities of life." Kim Haerim

"A tender family tale that transmits and opens a space for deep empathy with the characters and cultures you experience." Xavier Pillai

1999 Taiwan, Japan
Directed by
Edward Yang
Produced by
Shinya Kawai, Naoko Tsukeda
Written by
Edward Yang
Featuring
Wu Nien-chen, Issey Ogata, Elaine Jin
Running time
173 minutes

Ranked in The Greatest Films of All Time poll

Sight and Sound

Who voted for Yi Yi

Critics

Dudley Andrew
USA
Cameron Bailey
Canada
James Balmont
UK
Upekha Bandaranayake
UK
Nick Bradshaw
UK
Michelle Carey
Germany
Andrew Chan
USA
Tom Charity
Canada/UK
Peggy Chiao
Taiwan/China
Victor Courgeon
France
Fernando F. Croce
USA
Alonso Díaz de la Vega
Mexico
David Ehrlich
USA
Hazem Fahmy
Egypt
Jean-Michel Frodon
France
Catherine Grant
UK
Kim Haery
South Korea
Ella Kemp
UK
Edward Lawrenson
UK
Violet Lucca
USA
Gerhard Midding
Germany
Jelena Milosavljevic
UK
Wesley Morris
USA
Veton Nurkollari
Kosovo
Aneta Ozorek
Netherlands
Darcy Paquet
USA
Alastair Phillips
UK
Xavier Pillai
UK
Tom Ryan
Australia
David Sims
USA
Ryan Swen
US
Andreas Ungerböck
Austria

Directors

Aditya Assarat
Thailand
Lila Avilés
Mexico
Arie Esiri
Nigeria
Bora Kim
- Kogonada
USA
Jim McBride
USA
Riri Riza
Indonesia
Sophy Romvari
Canada
Lulu Wang
USA

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