Didi (15)
Directed by Sean Wang
★★★★ 

 
SET in 2008 during the last month of summer this hilarious yet raw and biting coming-of age tale captures the irreverence and vulnerability of adolescent boyhood as it follows the life of a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American youngster. 

Loosely inspired by his own teenage years and shot in his hometown of Fremont, writer-director Sean Wang’s impressive debut feature is charming and moving.

It portrays the spikey sibling relationship to a tee as Chris (Izaac Wang), “Didi” to his mother, bickers and fights bitterly with his older sister Vivian (Shirley Chen) who finds him extremely annoying, and is fed up with how he steals her hoodies and T-shirts. 

Wang, in his first leading role, gives an outstanding and nuanced performance as this reserved, angsty, nerdy kid who is navigating embarrassment and shame equally as he learns how to skateboard, flirt and make videos for the fledgeling YouTube.

He also acts up constantly against his long-suffering immigrant mum, played brilliantly by actor/director Joan Chen, whom he treats abhorrently.

She is desperately trying to keep the family together while her husband is working abroad, and her elderly mother-in-law is criticising her at every turn and accusing her of being a bad mum, which is very true to mother-in-law form. 

At the heart of this film is this very tender yet complicated and turbulent relationship between mother and son. 

Featuring a voice cameo by director Spike Jonze, this is a heartwarming love letter to teenage angst, and a gem of a film. 

In cinemas August 2. 

Kensuke’s Kingdom (PG) 
Directed by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry
★★★ 

 
 
A YOUNG boy and his dog are shipwrecked on a remote island after being swept overboard from his parents’ boat to discover that they are not alone, in this gentle yet haunting animated feature which will captivate both young and old alike. 

Based on the bestselling children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo, and adapted for the screen by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, it features an A-list voice cast which includes Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe. 

With its traditional hand-drawn 2D animation, it has a fable-like quality as it deals with peace, understanding, redemption and empathy. 

On discovering the island’s sole resident Kensuke (Watanabe), a World War II Japanese soldier, Michael (Aaron MacGregor) has to learn to come to a mutual understanding with him as this is his kingdom, having lived there for decades. Kensuke teaches him how to earn the trust of the orangutans that he protects from passing poachers. 

You expect there to be more to the story than meets the eye as it ends on a surprisingly upbeat note. 

In cinemas August 2. 

My Neighbour Totoro (U)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
★★★★★
 
 

STUDIO GHIBLI’s timeless 1988 classic My Neighbour Totoro returns to the big screen in all its magical and captivating glory. 

Set in 1950s Japan, it centres on two young sisters who move to the country with their loving father to be near their mother, who is being treated in a local hospital for an undisclosed illness. 

As the girls begin to explore their surroundings in nature, they encounter soot sprites, a feline bus and a number of magical creatures including the titular Totoro, all of which only they can see. 

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this critically acclaimed animated feature has lost none of its enchantment and its colourful characters are just as charming and bewitching as ever. 

For those who have never seen this then you are in for a wondrous cinematic treat which will enthral both you and your little ones alike. You can see it either in Japanese with English subtitles or dubbed into English.

In cinemas August 2.

Harold and the Purple Crayon (PG)
Directed by Carlos Saldanha
★★★ 
 
 

CROCKETT JOHNSON’s classic 1955 illustrated children’s book of the same name, which I suspect will mean more to US audiences, is brought to magical life in this funny live-action animated feature directed by Carlos Saldanha (Ferdinand). 

Zachary Levi stars as the adult Harold who paints a door into the real world with his purple crayon when the Narrator (Alfred Molina), who has always guided him, suddenly falls silent.

Harold goes in search of the Narrator with his best friends Moose (Lil Rel Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds).

His crayon also works in real life, leading him into all sorts of adventures and mischief as he is befriended by a single mother Terry (Zooey Deschanel), and her troubled son Mel (Benjamin Bottani). 

Levi has a childlike quality which makes Harold’s constant wonderment and inquisitiveness totally believable. 

Just like the book, this is about the limitless power of imagination. The children I took along were totally enchanted by it. 

In cinemas now.