14 Variations on the Theme of Yiyi (On Screen)

In Yi Yi the film, NJ, Yang Yang and Mr. Ota form three timelines of the past, the present and the future: Yang Yang’s age and the letter he wrote at the end of the film have become a gaze towards the future by modern-day people. For Mr. Ota, the magic trick he played with NJ in the izakaya and his vision for computers to become friends of humans have become a prophecy from director Edward Yang to us at the turning point of the millennium.

Yang Yang experimented more than anything in the film. On the other hand reflecting this, the tug-of-war between NJ and Mr. Ota was yet another experiment without regard to results in a world of grown-ups. As artificial intelligence becomes a global keyword, have we humans forgotten that we, too, gleaned experience from one trial after another? What artificial intelligence does is not only by virtue of its excellent computing power, or its never-ending stamina, but that it is not afraid, and faces each day anew.

When the pandemic hit the worst, 14 Variations on the Theme of Yi Yi was created under virtually impossible circumstances and became a record that transcended this period. In 14 scenes and 14 days, we inspire ourselves in one experiment after another, just like Yang Yang; so that we can say, as Mr. Ota said, “I teach myself.” All of this begins with letting go the fear that comes with seeing every day as a new day.

Adapted from Director Edward Yang’s Original Work “A one and a two”. Licensed by Kailidoscope Pictures Inc.

Chief Creative Advisor and Executive Producer：Kaili Peng
Director & Adaptation：Edward Lam
Video Director：Kenneth Yuen@Gain Production
Performers：Wang Hung-yuan, Huang Ren-Jie