Apr 19

Apr 19 The Farewell (2019)

Writer-director Lulu Wang scores a hit with this independent film set largely in China. Part family drama and part fish-out-of-water tale, The Farewell tells the story of a floundering Chinese-American woman, Billi (Awkwafina), as she follows her parents back to their native land. There, the matriarch of the clan, Billi’s grandmother, affectionately known as Nai Nai, has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer—but the family has chosen to keep that determination from the older woman. In order to generate a reason for all of Nai Nai’s kin to visit her for an extended stay, they choose to schedule a wedding for Billi’s male cousin.

Although the film has moments of lightness and humor, it roots itself deeply in the differences between cultures. Billi, who has lived in America since her early childhood, thinks it wrong to withhold Nai Nai’s health issues from her, especially because the doctor’s prognosis gives her only a few months to live. Keeping such information from an elder makes no sense to Billi—nor does it likely make sense to Western audiences in general. But when Billi finally reveals her dismay about the situation and fully articulates what she believes to be the immorality of the decision, her uncle explains the reasoning and emotion behind it, in a way that does make sense.

In her first significant dramatic role, Awkwafina shines. She anchors the film at the same time she shares the screen with an excellent cast. In particular, Tzi Ma and Diana Lin are wonderful as Billi’s parents, as is Shuzhen Zhao as Nai Nai. Lulu Wang has penned a terrific script, which she directs with skill. Definitely worth a look.