If you asked me what it’s like to have a sibling, I’d say it’s difficult to explain — one day they are the most annoying person on the planet, and the next, they’re your best friend. From rivalry and disputes to growth and appreciation, Sean Wang’s 2024 film Dídi captures the unpredictable, ever-changing, but ultimately resilient nature of the sibling dynamic. Dídi’s portrayal of this tumultuous yet heartwarming relationship inspires me to reflect on the bond that I have with my own older brother.
Dídi chronicles the summer of 13-year-old Chris Wang (Izaac Wang) — called dídi (Mandarin for “younger brother”) by his family, and “Wang Wang” by his friends — as he struggles to find people who will accept him for being himself. At home, he feels nagged by his mother, whom he has difficulty appreciating, and his college-bound sister is constantly getting on his nerves. As Chris grows and changes, so does his social life. Chris begins to grapple with feelings of isolation and a fear of standing out. His best friend begins to exclude him, and Chris tries to become someone he’s not in an effort to make new friends and to get a girlfriend. Chris is unsure who to rely on, but in the midst of it all, someone unexpected is there to support him — his older sister, Vivian.
Chris and Vivian do not get along. He sneaks into her room to steal her things, sends embarrassing texts from her AIM account, and bickers with her at the dinner table. But as the time before Vivian leaves for college begins to wind down, Chris grows closer to his sister. They start spending more time together, and she becomes someone Chris can rely on for support.
As a younger sibling, seeing Chris and Vivian’s relationship throughout the film filled me with a sense of nostalgia. My brother and I didn’t argue as much as Chris and Vivian growing up, but we had disputes like any siblings would. However, as we got older, we grew closer together and my brother became someone I could rely on. While watching Dídi, I couldn’t help but think about my older brother, who is also leaving for college soon. In one scene, Chris sits in Vivian’s empty room after she leaves and looks around, engulfed in its strange stillness. Chris’ melancholic state resonated with me, and I began to think about just how different my home would feel without my brother there. Dídi portrays the complicated feelings that come with growing up with a sibling, and captures a bittersweet moment that many younger siblings experience.
