‘Dìdi’ Star Joan Chen on Reinventing Onscreen Asian Moms: ‘Stereotypes Are Not Innately Evil, but They’re an Incomplete Portrayal’

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As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for authenticity and representation, I found myself profoundly moved by Joan Chen’s performance in “Dìdi.” Her portrayal of Chungsing, a Taiwanese immigrant mother grappling with cultural chasms and generational tension, resonated deeply with me.

At the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, “Dìdi,” directed by Sean Wang, won both the Audience Award and a special jury prize for best ensemble. This was Sean Wang’s first feature film. The movie tells the story of Chris (portrayed by Izaac Wang), a Taiwanese-American teenager grappling with his identity as a child of immigrants. As he struggles with hormones and the pressures of adolescence, Chris often behaves impolitely. However, his unkind behavior is most starkly contrasted with the compassion and boundless patience displayed by his mother Chungsing, played by Joan Chen, during their interactions.

In her distinguished career, she found a particularly resonating role in productions such as “The Last Emperor,” “Heaven & Earth,” and “Twin Peaks.” This role held a special connection for her, as she shared a profound similarity with the character portrayed. Chen explains, “I, like the character in the film, am an immigrant mother who raised two children in America. I felt a kindred spirit in terms of the motherhood experience, which was marked by cultural differences and tensions between generations, despite being filled with love.

Moreover, “Didi’s” executive producer, Chen, shares that she was immediately captivated by Wang’s film when she first read its script, as it authentically – though not always favorably – reflects his personal experiences. “Sean had an intimate understanding of the material from his own life,” she states.

Chen held a deep admiration for the multifaceted character Wang lent to Chungsing. Not only was she the resilient matriarch of the family, often left alone due to her husband’s and Chris’ father’s frequent absences, but she also harbored personal ambitions – namely, becoming an artist. “I admired her artistic side,” she expressed. “Though her English skills were limited, she was a typical mother who had relinquished her dreams, dedicating herself wholeheartedly to the family’s wellbeing and finding herself secluded from the world due to unemployment.

Due to her personal experiences with her actual kids, Chen quickly empathized with her on-screen son’s feelings, enabling her to portray Chungsing with genuine, heartfelt understanding. She recalls, “He’s often told things like, ‘He’s cool for a Chinese.’ My children experienced the same thing. The feeling of shame, that somehow my daughter Angela was unique and she wished to be like everyone else, is precisely what Chris experiences in the movie.

She notes that ‘Didi’ isn’t rooted in race but rather in emotions that transcend cultural boundaries. In the United States, where there’s a rich tapestry of ethnicities and cultures, everyone has the unique ability to express themselves intensely, yet they all share a common thread of humanity.

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2024-12-16 21:16