Yi Yi (A One and A Two)

An elegant paean to the enduring qualities of love and redemption as characterised by a normal, middle-class Taipei family, Edward Yang's YI Yi is a subtle delight. Covering the gamut of emotional issues over the course of its (relatively lengthy) running time, writer director Wang infuses all of his characters with a rarely seen depth and humanity and allows them the space in which to express themselves. Despite dealing with a number of distinct narrative threads, Yang's style of direction is easy going and the action is fluid. This, alongside the impressive performances from all his players, ensures that Yi Yi is an extremely accomplished film.