Didi, Sean Wang’s Debut Film: A Raw and Universal Coming-of-Age Story
Exclusive Interview with the Sundance-Winning Director
Sean Wang’s debut film, Didi, has already made a strong impact on the indie scene. With 21 awards and 39 nominations, the coming-of-age drama was named one of the Top 10 Independent Films of 2024 by the National Board of Review.
Speaking to us from across the globe, Wang joined our live Q&A at the Champs-Élysées Film Festival. At 9am his time, 6pm ours, the conversation reflected the film’s universality: an authentic portrait of adolescence beyond borders and clichés.
The Real Story Behind Sean Wang’s Debut Film
“This is probably the most personal thing I’ve ever made,” Wang tells us. Like his protagonist, he was 13 in 2008, with Taiwanese roots, a sister leaving for college, and a love of skateboarding. Known for the Oscar-nominated short Nai Nai & Wài Pó, Wang describes Didi as “a fictionalized version of my lived experience — dramatized to serve the story.”
A Raw Coming-of-Age Portrait
Didi breaks from the sanitized image of teens in Hollywood. Messy, insecure, funny, frustrating — the main character feels utterly real. “I wanted to portray kids who are awkward and unpolished,” says Wang. He cites influences like Stand By Me, The 400 Blows, and This Is England.
While comparisons to Mid90s or Eighth Grade are inevitable, Wang avoids imitation. “People said: ‘It’s Mid90s, but Asian.’ I tried to resist that and create something more personal.”
At Its Core: A Mother-Son Relationship
As the film unfolds, it becomes clear: Didi is not just about teenage angst, but about the unspoken tenderness between a son and his mother. Joan Chen plays the mother with subtlety, avoiding the stereotypical “tiger mom” trope. Her performance, based partly on Wang’s own mother, adds warmth and depth to the narrative.
A Casting That Elevates the Film
Over eight months, Wang cast mostly non-professional actors. Isaac Wang, who plays Didi, “brought humor and energy, but also uncovered the character’s emotional core.” The film earned the Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Cast at Sundance 2024. Joan Chen, though only briefly onscreen, is unforgettable. “With one look, she says everything,” says Wang.
Digital Nostalgia: Capturing a Forgotten Internet Era
Didi also explores early 2000s tech culture — AIM, MySpace, early Facebook. “I’d never seen that era of the Internet depicted honestly in film,” Wang reflects. It’s more than nostalgia — it’s a lens into the anxiety and identity crisis brought on by early social media.
Looking Ahead: A New Voice in Indie Cinema
Wang is already working on his next project. “I’m writing something new and producing for a close collaborator,” he says. Didi confirms him as a director to watch — one who blends sensitivity, cultural nuance, and artistic vision in his storytelling.
Must-See: Official Selection – Champs-Élysées Film Festival
In Theaters: July 16, 2025
Didi on Wikipedia
Genre: Drama, Coming-of-Age
Runtime: 93 min
Cast: Isaac Wang, Joan Chen, Shirley Chen
Distributor: Focus Features
Review: ★★★★☆ — A deeply moving and refreshingly honest debut
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