Yi Yi - Characters & Cast

To find meaning and honesty in a world dominated by compromise and materialism, and to reconcile his past with his present responsibilities as a father and husband.

NJ begins the film feeling dissatisfied with his work and haunted by past regrets. His reunion with his first love, Sherry, offers him a chance to "live life again," but he ultimately chooses to accept his present. He finds a kindred spirit in the principled Japanese game designer, Ota, which reaffirms his own values. His arc is one of quiet acceptance, learning that maturity lies in living with one's choices rather than trying to erase them.

To navigate the complexities of friendship and first love, and to alleviate the guilt she feels about her grandmother's illness.

Ting-Ting starts as a quiet, reserved teenager burdened by guilt over her grandmother's stroke. She experiences the highs and lows of first love through a complex relationship with her neighbor Lili and Lili's boyfriend, Fatty. This journey forces her to confront the painful difference between her idealistic view of the world and its complicated reality. Her arc is a classic coming-of-age story, moving from youthful naivety to a more mature, albeit melancholic, understanding of life and relationships.

To understand the world and show people the parts of reality they cannot see for themselves.

Yang-Yang is the film's philosophical heart. Initially bullied and misunderstood, he channels his curiosity into photography, becoming an active explorer of the world around him. His journey is one of discovery, as he tries to make sense of the adult world's contradictions. His final speech at his grandmother's funeral shows immense growth, as he articulates his desire to show people the unseen and declares, with poignant wisdom, that he feels "old, too." He represents the beginning of a new cycle, armed with the wisdom gained from observing the previous one.

To escape the perceived monotony and meaninglessness of her daily life and find spiritual or personal fulfillment.

Min-Min's arc is triggered by her mother's collapse, which leads her to a profound existential crisis. She realizes her life feels empty and repetitive, a confession she sobs to her comatose mother. She escapes to a Buddhist monastery seeking answers but returns to find that "nothing is different." Her journey is not about finding a magical cure but about confronting the void in her life. While her resolution is ambiguous, she returns to her family, suggesting a quiet decision to re-engage with the life she had previously dismissed as meaningless.