I love a great surprise. And this year, a handful of terrific films inspired and thrilled us. The latest flick to bring all the feels is the fantastic Didi. The movie tells the story of a young and rambunctious 13-year-old living in 2008. Izaac Wang, as the lad, is remarkable in a challenging performance that makes the film near perfect. Joan Chen also shines as a mother who has to carry a heavy burden. It’s an incredible feature directed by Sean Wang, and if you didn’t get to check it out during its initial release, I’d highly recommend it as it moves into an expanded release on Friday, August 16.

Recently, we sat down for interviews with the film’s writer/director, Sean Wang, as well as Joan Chen and Izaac Wang. After complimenting my backdrop, we immediately jumped into the conversation. Sean opened up about telling this personal story.