Reviews

This movie is intelligent and thought provoking as it examines, without judgment, the human capacity for both good and evil in its portrayal of several citizens of a small town in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi occupation. It is rare that a movie be harrowing, funny, sweet, and heart wrenching without being contrived. What distinguishes this movie about wartime loyalties and collaboration with the enemy from well worn cliches is its finely nuanced portrayal of each character. Not every collaborator is deserving of punishment and not every so called resistance fighter is a hero. It is an emotionally rewarding movie and it shows that human behavior cannot be reduced to a Manichean struggle.

Yi Yi is a lovely film about the vicissitudes and disappointments we all go through in life. Focusing on a family of five -- middle aged parents, a teenage daughter, an eight year old son and an elderly grandmother -- the film explores the loss of innocence and the inherent limitations of possibilities as one grows older. I found the story of the father most moving, as he struggles with behaving decently in a cutthroat business environment and his feeling toward an old flame who suddenly reappears. The loneliness of the human condition and the alienation of modern life can be seen in many shots of family members who, despite seeing the other's suffering, can't reach out to offer any solace, or in a scene of a woman crying alone in a hotel, shot through the glass windows of modern office towers. The film is not melodramatic. It moves at a leisurely pace so that the viewer becomes completely involved in this family's daily struggles. I highly recommend seeing this movie.

Although the performances were good, this movie is quite frustrating. While a non-linear narrative can be effective and compelling, the disjointed plot or lack of one leaves the viewer bored and confused. The story line is further strained by the lack of development of much of Alice's and Martin's characters. For instance, one can't understand why Martin's father was such a brute or why Alice would choose to stay with Martin. It's a shame because this movie could have been a lot better.