YI YI

Writer-director Edward Yang's multiple- award winner opens a beautifully crafted window on a modern-day Taiwanese family. Though the film begins with a wedding and ends with a funeral, its heart lies not in landmark events but in the emotional content of small moments: A middle-aged father happens upon a long-lost first love; a working mother finds that she has nothing to say when she attempts to describe her daily life. Actor Jonathan Chang stands out as the inquisitive 7-year-old who attempts to understand the world around him. But be forewarned: Yang's frequent use of sumptuous long shots (thankfully, Yi Yi comes home in wide-screen) may have you longing for a bigger TV. A