Didi (1937) Plot Summary & Timeline

The movie begins in the summer of 2008, portraying the life of Prabha’s character, 13-year-old Chris Wang aka “Wang Wang” (played by Izaac Wang). Chris spends his days immersed in typical childhood activities alongside his friends, Fahad Mahmood (Raul Dial) and Jimmy “Soup” Kim (Aaron Chang). He resides with his mother Chungsing (portrayed by Joan Chen), his older sister Vivian (played by Shirley Chen), and their Nai Nai (represented by Chang Li Hua), while his father remains in Taiwan due to work commitments. Despite their sibling rivalry, Chris and Vivian share a complicated but familial bond, with Vivian soon preparing to leave for college. Their mother, Chungsing, is an artist who struggles to gain acceptance into arts programs, reflecting her own unfulfilled aspirations.

As the summer unfolds, Chris’s social life takes center stage. He joins Fahad and Soup at a party hosted by their friend Hardeep (played by Tarmvir Kamboj). Chris is filled with excitement and nerves because Madi (played by Mahaela Park) — his crush — is also attending. During the party, when the group watches the film “Superbad,” Chris escapes to the upstairs bedroom where he secretly encounters Madi and her friend. Although initially awkward, Madi seems to warm up to him, even suggesting he add her on Facebook. Chris, eager to impress, waits until the girls are distracted and then discreetly leaves the room. In an attempt to break the ice, Chris messages Madi, pretending to have seen “A Walk to Remember,” despite not having watched the movie and unaware it’s a romantic chick flick.

Chris’s efforts to connect with Madi lead him to the skate park, where he encounters a group of boys — Donovan (Chiron Denk), Cory (Sunil Maurillo), and Nugget (Montay Boseman). Fascinated by their skateboarding skills, Chris offers to film their tricks, claiming experience he doesn’t truly have. After some hesitation, Donovan allows him to join, prompting Chris to delete embarrassing videos from his phone to prevent being mistaken for a novice.

Madi later gives Chris her phone number, and she shows genuine interest in him. With Fahad playfully adding flirtatious texts, Chris gets further chances to hang out with her. They meet at a playground, where Madi challenges him to “The Nervous Game,” moving her hand closer and asking if he’s nervous. As she leans in, Chris admits his nerves, causing her to pull back. Later, when she tries to reconnect, Chris feels ashamed and blocks her on AIM, his online messaging platform. Returning home, his sister Vivian criticizes him, leading Chris to harshly express his hatred for her and impatience for her departure.

Throughout the summer, Chris spends time with the skaters, attempting to capture their moves on camera but often with poor results, such as fuzzy footage or missed shots. One day, when they’re asked to leave a skating spot by security, Chris records Donovan as he confronts the guard, revealing his growing involvement with the skating crowd. On another occasion, Chris accompanies Fahad, Ellie, and Jade ([Alaysia Simmons], [Alysha Syed]), but is noticeably uncomfortable. His attempts at humor during a conversation about a dead squirrel end disastrously when he jokingly insults one of the girls, which, coupled with his awkwardness, leaves him isolated as the girls’ mother picks them up and overlooks him in photos later posted online.

Before heading out on a night with friends, Chris and Vivian overhear Chungsing and Nai Nai arguing. Nai Nai laments that she feels her time is ending and worries she won’t see her grandson graduate, whereas Chungsing insists she’s maintaining the household. The night out with older kids takes a turn when Chris drinks alcohol, consumes drugs, and even swallows the end of a joint to cough out smoke, earning approval from the older boys. However, he soon experiences a vivid hallucination and later vomits at home, with Vivian discreetly helping him cover for his reckless behavior.

Later, Nai Nai is found outside, having fallen and worn out from her attempt to be there for Chris. She expresses her fears about her impending departure, while Chris’s mother, Chungsing, assures her that she’s doing her best to keep the family together. Nai Nai’s heartfelt words highlight the underlying theme of aging and the fleeting nature of time.

When the skaters return to watch Chris’s footage, they are unimpressed by the shaky videos, especially since he failed to get a proper shot of Donovan during their clash with security. Tensions with his mother escalate when Chris pushes her out of the room, exhibiting frustration and resentment, which causes the boys to harshly judge him as immature. They leave, disappointed in his attitude.

As the school year approaches, Vivian leaves for college, leaving Chris feeling increasingly alone. He checks his MySpace top eight friends and sees he’s not included, deepening his sense of isolation. Out on his own, he confronts a classmate, Josh (played by Joziah Lagonoy), who mocks him for not kissing Madi. Chris responds impulsively, hitting him with his skateboard and then punching him, prompting an altercation that gets him into trouble. After his mother picks him up, Chris explodes in anger — calling her shameful and insulting her in an outburst of frustration about his perceived inadequacies and comparisons to a more successful cousin.

Seeking refuge, Chris runs to a playground to cool off, then spends time talking to an online bot, SmarterChild, expressing feelings of failure and loneliness. When he confronts his mother about her possible shame, she shares her own story: when Vivian was 14, she also ran away after declaring her hatred for her mother and was gone for three days. Despite her worries, she still loves her children, though she admits it can be difficult.

The new high school year begins, and Chris spots Madi but hesitates to approach her. He apologizes for not replying to her earlier messages, but she mentions the incident with Josh, making him realize she’s no longer interested. Despite the disappointment, he encounters Fahad and Soup at the student clubs, where they greet him warmly, hinting at the possibility of reconciliation.

The film closes with Chris and his mother sharing a quiet dinner at home, with Nai Nai peacefully sleeping nearby — a poignant end to a summer filled with growth, heartbreak, and the ongoing pursuit of belonging and understanding.