Dìdi

Plot Summary

After middle school ends, Chris passes the summer with friends, family, and familiar faces. His mother and grandmother smother him with food and attention to fill the void left by his father working overseas. He fights bitterly with his older sister Vivian, but she is close to leaving for college. Their screaming sibling matches die down when Vivian notices Chris getting older. Just as she is about to leave, his usual friends are replaced with older teens, and she worries about the choices he is making as she nurses him to health from a high school party. Chris makes choices that will make us cringe, cry, and laugh. Young adults will see themselves in the loneliness and complexity of navigating teenage relationships. Adults may feel their stomach turn as they remember the unnecessary lies they told to impress others or friendships that quickly evaporated after one wrong move. 

Critical Evaluation

Vintage technology from 2008 made this story hit hard for the adult audience. The accuracy of Myspace, YouTube, and the emergence of Facebook were all true to the era in which many adults experienced their teen years. The only criticism that I have about the technology of the set is that in 2008, instant messaging was not a popular mode of communication. The way that Chris used this technology to win Madi by mirroring all of her interests is such a sneaky kid move. The movie centers around Chris and how selfish, awkward, and hurt he is. And even though he pushes hard against his mother and their shared culture, it is beautiful to see the tender way she looks at him and how he feels her love. If you can stomach a nail-biting hour and a half of self-sabotage, I highly recommend this movie. When I saw the trailer, it reminded me of Thirteen, another preteen coming-of-age film that came out when I was a preteen. What Thirteen did for my generation to make us feel less alone, I feel Dìdi can do for a new generation. 

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation

  Dìdi does not have a history of censorship. In defense against censorship, the best defense for any library is a strong reconsideration policy. 

Creative Use for a Library Program

Library "Filmer": Chris finds his joy in making videos. Allow the teen advisory board to submit promotional videos for upcoming library events. Pair with youth programming related to videography and Photoshop. If enough teens are interested in creating library videos as a continued project, consider creating an AV club at the library.

Reason for Inclusion

This movie is a coming-of-age narrative focusing on a boy transitioning from the tween phase to the teenage phase. Chris is in a unique period for teenagers when a social life became about a person's digital footprint as much as what they do in person. There is also a focus on the conflict between immigrant parents and their children who are trying to assimilate into the American mainstream,