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Plot Summary

Yi Yi (2000) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2000 · 173 min · English
Directed by
Edward Yang
Starring
Nien-Jen Wu

A woman's life is unexpectedly altered after a meeting with a hearse driver, leading her on a poignant journey of self-discovery and new beginnings. The encounter triggers a period of grief and longing, prompting introspection and a search for meaning as she navigates life's complexities and embraces unexpected paths forward.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Yi Yi
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Yi Yi (2000)

Where can you watch Yi Yi? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Yi Yi: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Yi Yi (2000) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The Jian family consists of father NJ, mother Min-Min, daughter Ting-Ting, and son Yang-Yang, living a modest life in Taipei. At the wedding of Min-Min's younger brother A-Di, NJ unexpectedly encounters his former girlfriend, Sherry, who hands him her number before departing. Sherry is currently married to an American and resides in Chicago. The festivities take a dark turn when Min-Min's mother, who stays with them, suffers a stroke, leaving her in a comatose state. With her life now dependent on machines, the doctor advises the family to speak to her daily in hopes of reaching out to her consciousness.

Feeling unfulfilled in his job amidst his company's financial struggles, NJ faces pressure from his colleagues to win over a client named Mr. Ota. Though reluctantly, NJ takes Ota out for dinner, leading to an unexpected bond between them. They end their night at a bar, where Ota displays his musical talent, singing and playing the piano. That same night, NJ reaches out and leaves a heartfelt message for Sherry, expressing regret for how he left their relationship 30 years prior. Meanwhile, Min-Min, grappling with her mother’s fragile state, retreats to a secluded Buddhist monastery to find solace.

Amidst family turmoil, A-Di faces the fallout from a bad investment that results in him being kicked out of the house. Seeking support, he turns to his ex-girlfriend, Yun-Yun, and is allowed back only after the birth of his child. However, the baby shower takes a chaotic turn when Yun-Yun crashes the event, igniting tensions. Following a dangerous gas leak incident, A-Di and his wife find a path to reconciliation.

On the other hand, Ting-Ting grapples with guilt after her grandmother’s sudden collapse while she was responsible for taking out the trash. In her quest for companionship, she befriends her neighbor, Lili. After Lili's breakup with her boyfriend, Fatty, he starts sending letters through Ting-Ting, and soon grows attracted to her. Their relationship takes a hesitant turn when, after a second date, they check into a hotel room but decide to leave. Complications arise as Ting-Ting witnesses Lili rekindling her romance with Fatty and faces unwanted backlash from him. Overwhelmed with depression, Ting-Ting desperately talks to her grandmother, pleading for her to awaken. Tragically, she later learns of a shocking incident involving Fatty and Lili's former teacher, leading her to dream of her grandmother's comfort.

Feeling disconnected from his grandmother, Yang-Yang turns to photography to express himself. After skipping school to purchase film, he faces punishment at school, igniting his resolve to take better pictures despite being tormented by a girl who has a crush on him. Inspired to connect, he teaches himself how to swim in hopes of understanding his bully better.

As NJ is dispatched to Tokyo for crucial negotiations with Ota, Sherry coincidently travels to Japan as well. Their reunion stirs up unresolved feelings, and as they reminisce, it becomes evident that Sherry has not moved on from NJ’s sudden departure. Despite their attempts to work through their feelings, NJ's insistence on separate rooms during their hotel stay leads to an emotional breakdown for Sherry. In a moment of clarity, NJ informs her that he has never loved anyone else. However, the next day brings devastating news of his company securing a deal with another client, forcing him to return home. This prompts a confrontation with his colleague, and NJ wrestles with his conscience for abandoning Ota in the process of corporate success. He later discovers that Sherry has already checked out, leaving him with unresolved feelings.

Following the death of Min-Min's mother, she returns to her family, where they all gather to mourn. During the funeral, NJ receives pressure from his colleague to return to work, but he firmly declines. In a poignant moment by her shrine, Yang-Yang delivers a touching monologue, expressing his longing and connections to his grandmother. He captures their shared moments, his yearning to reveal the unseen truths, ultimately concluding with a bittersweet reflection on family and time as he connects the memory of his cousin’s newborn with his own desire to identify with his grandmother by stating, "I am old too."

Last updated: November 15, 2024 at 19:07

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Plot questions answered

Yi Yi Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Yi Yi (2000): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does NJ decide to call his ex-girlfriend Sherry after all these years?

NJ reaches out to Sherry because he's reflecting on his unresolved past. At the wedding, he was reminded of their breakup 30 years ago, and the circumstances, his mother's stroke, his dissatisfaction at work, triggered his regret. During a night out with Ota, he decides to leave her a heartfelt message expressing his sorrow about how their relationship ended.

Foreshadowing: Earlier at the wedding, Sherry hands NJ her phone number before leaving, reopening old wounds.

  • nj
  • sherry
  • ex-girlfriend
  • regret
  • phone call
  • 30 years
Q2

Why does Min-Min go to a Buddhist monastery during her mother's illness?

Min-Min retreats to the monastery because she's overwhelmed by her mother's sudden stroke and the family's emotional turmoil. The comatose state of her mother, combined with the pressure of dealing with NJ's work struggles and family responsibilities, drives her to seek spiritual solace and clarity away from the chaos at home.

  • min-min
  • buddhist monastery
  • spiritual retreat
  • grief
  • mother stroke
Q3

Why does Sherry have an emotional breakdown in the Tokyo hotel?

Sherry breaks down because NJ insists on separate hotel rooms despite their obvious unresolved feelings for each other. This act makes her realize that even though they've reunited, the emotional distance between them remains. She has waited 30 years for NJ to acknowledge their relationship, and his rejection triggers her complete emotional collapse.

Foreshadowing: Sherry traveled to Japan coincidentally, showing her continued emotional investment in NJ.

  • sherry
  • emotional breakdown
  • tokyo hotel
  • rejection
  • 30 years unresolved love
Q4

Why does Ting-Ting feel responsible for her grandmother's stroke?

Ting-Ting feels guilty because she was the one supposed to take out the trash when her grandmother collapsed. She believes that if she had been present or quicker, she might have prevented the stroke or at least gotten help sooner. This guilt drives her to seek companionship with Lili and eventually leads her to desperately plead with her comatose grandmother to wake up.

  • ting-ting
  • guilt
  • grandmother stroke
  • responsibility
  • neglect
Q5

How does A-Di manage to reconcile with his wife after the gas leak incident?

The dangerous gas leak becomes a turning point for A-Di and Yun-Yun. After facing the threat of losing everything due to his bad investments and then experiencing this near-disaster, they both realize their relationship matters more than their grievances. The crisis forces them to set aside their differences and work together, leading to their reconciliation.

Foreshadowing: A-Di was kicked out of the house after his financial failure, creating the initial rift.

  • a-di
  • yun-yun
  • gas leak
  • reconciliation
  • marriage crisis
Q6

Why does NJ choose to pursue his relationship with Sherry instead of finalizing the business deal?

NJ chooses Sherry because their reunion forces him to confront his long-suppressed emotions and regrets about the past. When his company secures a deal with another client while he's in Tokyo, NJ realizes he has been living a life of compromise. He wrestles with his conscience about abandoning Ota, but ultimately prioritizes emotional authenticity over professional success.

Foreshadowing: NJ and Ota formed an unexpected friendship, making NJ's abandonment more emotionally complex.

  • nj
  • ota
  • abandon
  • deal
  • sherry
  • tokyo
  • corporate
  • emotional choice
Q7

Why does Yang-Yang begin taking photographs despite his grandmother being ill?

Yang-Yang starts photography because he feels disconnected from his comatose grandmother and wants to capture moments to share with her. He believes that if he takes pictures of things she hasn't seen, it will help him feel connected to her. Photography becomes his emotional outlet for expressing the feelings he cannot verbalize, especially his frustration at not being able to communicate with her.

  • yang-yang
  • photography
  • grandmother
  • connection
  • expression
  • disconnection
Q8

What is the significance of Yang-Yang's monologue at his grandmother's funeral?

In his monologue, Yang-Yang expresses that he wants to show his grandmother all the things she hasn't seen, because he believes she will understand everything once she wakes up. He concludes by saying he is "old too," connecting his cousin's newborn to his own desire to be recognized as having depth and understanding, despite his youth. This monologue symbolizes his acceptance of mortality and his desire to preserve memory and connection.

Foreshadowing: Yang-Yang's earlier attempts to communicate with his unresponsive grandmother foreshadow this moment.

  • yang-yang
  • funeral
  • monologue
  • grandmother
  • memory
  • newborn
  • acceptance
Q9

Why does NJ refuse to return to work after his mother-in-law passes away?

NJ refuses to return to work because his mother-in-law's death makes him reevaluate what's truly important in life. After experiencing the emotional turmoil of reconnecting with Sherry, abandoning the Ota deal, and witnessing his family's grief, he realizes his career has been sacrificing his personal fulfillment. He chooses to prioritize his family's emotional needs over professional obligations.

Foreshadowing: NJ had been unhappy in his job for some time, facing pressure from financial struggles.

  • nj
  • job
  • quit
  • family
  • priorities
  • mother-in-law death
Q10

Why does Lili get back together with Fatty after breaking up with him?

Lili rekindles her relationship with Fatty because despite their breakup, their emotional connection remained strong. When Ting-Ting serves as their messenger, she witnesses Lili and Fatty reuniting, which causes Ting-Ting additional emotional pain. The cycle of their on-again, off-again relationship reflects the broader theme of unresolved feelings and incomplete connections in the film.

  • lili
  • fatty
  • relationship
  • reunion
  • ting-ting messenger
Q11

Why does NJ take client Mr. Ota out for dinner despite not wanting to?

NJ takes Ota out because his company is facing financial struggles and needs his help securing the client. Although reluctant at first, feeling unfulfilled in his job, NJ agrees under pressure from colleagues. The dinner becomes significant because NJ and Ota form an unexpected personal connection, sharing music and emotional stories, which later complicates NJ's decision to abandon the deal.

Foreshadowing: NJ's dissatisfaction at work was established early in the film.

  • nj
  • ota
  • client
  • dinner
  • bonding
  • financial pressure
Q12

Why does Ting-Ting become friends with her neighbor Lili?

Ting-Ting befriends Lili because she's seeking companionship during a difficult time. Overwhelmed by guilt over her grandmother's stroke and feeling isolated, she finds comfort in Lili's friendship. This relationship eventually leads to complications when Lili asks Ting-Ting to be a messenger to her ex-boyfriend Fatty, creating an emotional entanglement.

  • ting-ting
  • lili
  • friendship
  • guilt
  • companionship
  • neighbor

Movie threads

More Movies Like Yi Yi, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Yi Yi tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Quiet family portraits like in Yi Yi

Observational stories of ordinary families navigating life's quiet turning points. If you enjoyed the patient, multi-perspective look at family life in Yi Yi, you'll find similar movies here. These dramas weave together the individual stories of family members, exploring themes of connection, regret, and change with a gentle, observational eye.

  • contemplative
  • family
  • quiet
  • reflective
  • tender
  • atmospheric
  • Tone: melancholic, contemplative, tender
  • Pacing: slow, observational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow multiple family members simultaneously, each grappling with their own personal crises or longings. The central plot is less about a single event and more about the cumulative emotional impact of these individual journeys on the family fabric. The climax is often a moment of shared understanding or acceptance.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on the domestic sphere, their ensemble approach to character, and a tone that is more reflective than melodramatic. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the audience to sit with the characters in their moments of quiet contemplation and subtle realization.

Bittersweet introspective movies like Yi Yi

Stories where characters look back on their lives with a mix of regret and acceptance. Seeking more films with the poignant, reflective quality of Yi Yi? This list features movies that explore memory, regret, and the search for meaning, often concluding with a bittersweet but resonant sense of acceptance about life's journey.

  • bittersweet
  • melancholic
  • reflective
  • nostalgic
  • contemplative
  • poignant
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, reflective
  • Pacing: slow, thoughtful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist or group of characters being prompted, often by a loss or reunion, to reassess their lives. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks, recollections, or contemplative moments, building towards an ending that is neither purely happy nor sad, but rather a complex blend of both—the 'bittersweet' feeling of recognizing loss while embracing what remains.

Why they belong together: They share a melancholic yet tender tone, a deliberate pacing that allows for deep thought, and a central theme of reconciling with the past. The emotional journey is characterized by a medium-to-high sadness score balanced with moments of human connection, resulting in a deeply thoughtful and emotionally nuanced experience.

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Every angle

Yi Yi (2000) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Yi Yi in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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