Yichen Chen

Yichen Chen’s filmography is a weird mashup of wild ambition and genuine talent, honestly. Escape from the 21st Century (2024) is kind of a mind-bender, not gonna lie. The story basically hurls you into this chaotic future where the lines between reality and tech blur so much, you start questioning your own grip on things. Instead of the usual dystopian drama, it’s got a frenetic, almost fever-dream energy—think late-night cyberpunk with a dash of existential dread. The characters, all stuck in their own loops, try to claw their way out of a world that seems rigged against them. You’re left wondering if anyone can actually escape, or if the “21st century” is more of a state of mind than a place in time. And then, there’s Yi Nian Hua Kai (2023), which is a total vibe shift. It’s quieter, more introspective, and honestly, kind of beautiful in a bittersweet way. Instead of tech and chaos, you get these delicate human connections—people who are haunted by memories, chasing after the fleeting stuff that makes life feel real. The film’s got this gentle, almost poetic pace, like the director wants you to just sit with these characters and feel what they’re feeling, no rush. It’s the kind of movie that lingers with you after the credits roll, making you rethink what nostalgia even means. Chen’s work is unpredictable, but always gutsy—never just wallpaper, always something to chew on.