What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedYi Yi
Edward Yang · Film · 2000
If you loved Yi Yi, start with Master of None (Alan Yang, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Yi Yi across media.
What hooked you in Yi Yi was the way it finds profound, quiet meaning within the ordinary struggles of modern existence.
Books on the same thread
And Then
夏目漱石 · Book · 1988
Shares a thread with Yi Yi: Existentialism.
Like Yi Yi, this novel captures the quiet ache of a man navigating a shifting social landscape, mirroring the internal search for purpose found in Edward Yang's masterpiece.
Either/Or
Søren Kierkegaard · Book · 2004
Shares a thread with Yi Yi: Existentialism.
If the philosophical questioning of life's meaning in Yi Yi resonated with you, this text provides a foundational exploration of the tension between aesthetic and ethical ways of living.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel García Márquez · Book · 1967
Explores: generational trauma, incest, fate vs free will.
The sweeping generational scope and focus on family dynamics found in Yi Yi are mirrored here through the epic, sprawling history of a single family's intricate life.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwell · Book · 2004
Explores: Totalitarianism, Surveillance, Loss of Individuality.
While more overtly political than Yi Yi, this story explores the same stifling pressure of societal expectations and the difficulty of maintaining individuality in an increasingly rigid world.
Series on the same thread
Serial Experiments Lain
Series · 1998
Shares a thread with Yi Yi: Existentialism.
This series translates the existential loneliness present in Yi Yi into a digital landscape, examining how technology complicates the search for a stable sense of self and identity.
Master of None
Alan Yang · Series · 2015
Explores: Dating in the modern age, Existential crisis, Career aspirations.
Much like the midlife transitions in Yi Yi, this show finds humor and poignancy in the daily navigation of career and personal relationships during a period of uncertainty.
Mushi-Shi
Series · 2005
Explores: Spirituality, Nature, Balance.
The meditative pace and observant nature of Yi Yi are mirrored in these episodic encounters, where small moments of human suffering reveal deeper truths about the natural order.
Severance
Dan Erickson · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Yi Yi: Existentialism.
This series mirrors the existential anxiety found in Yi Yi by questioning how our daily professional routines and compartmentalized lives shape our perception of reality and personal truth.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
If you appreciated the observational storytelling of Yi Yi, you will value these audio narratives that capture the same intimate, complex layers of the modern human condition.
Desinteligencia Artificial
Podcast
Shares a thread with Yi Yi: Existentialism.
This podcast explores the same sense of moral and existential uncertainty presented in Yi Yi, focusing on how modern technology impacts our understanding of the world around us.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Yi Yi a film about a family?
Yes, Yi Yi follows a Taipei family as they navigate personal and moral uncertainty. The narrative focuses on how everyday events test their relationships and their overall sense of purpose throughout the progression of the story.
What is the central theme of Yi Yi?
The central theme of Yi Yi involves the examination of moral uncertainty and personal growth. The film portrays how members of a Taipei family encounter various everyday events that challenge their individual perspectives and their collective sense of purpose.
Where does the story of Yi Yi take place?
The story of Yi Yi is set in Taipei. It centers on a family living in the city as they face various personal and moral challenges that test their relationships and sense of purpose during the events depicted in the film.
What kind of challenges do the characters in Yi Yi face?
The characters in Yi Yi face personal and moral uncertainty. These challenges arise from everyday events that test the strength of their relationships and their individual sense of purpose as they live their lives in Taipei.