Written and directed lovingly from her memories, Lulu Wang
has brought to the screen a deeply personal story of Chinese culture at odds
with modern convention in The Farewell.
Featuring a game changing role for
comedian actress Awkwafina, it is a significant, early entry to the awards
season.
Billi (Awkwafina) is a young, Chinese woman in America who
loves her grandmother, Nai Nai, who lives in China. When
the family learns that Nai Nai has terminal cancer, they elect to keep the
truth from her and gather for a reunion on the pretense of a family wedding.
Billi wrestles with her family’s wishes and the love for her grandmother as the
wedding approaches.
Amid a fine ensemble, Awkwafina, in a major change of pace,
nails the emotional anguish her character feels
There is not one false note in
her performance. Her Billi is
independent, proud, fallible, and wears her emotion on her sleeve.
Throughout the story, a somber undercurrent runs counter to a
supposed happy occasion as the film contrasts Chinese tradition with modern
thinking where East meets West. It realistically portrays the Chinese, familial
experience and what we pass along to our children. It also explores the levels of deception or
half-truths among family members and reassessing revelations from the past.
The film is methodically paced, balancing the delicate drama
with fleeting moments of humor and really hits the spot with three, final shots
that are memorable. Its portrayal of an Asian family may be old school, but its
themes are universal. The film is partly
in English and primarily Mandarin Chinese with subtitles. Stay with it, and it
will make a lasting impression. It’s a
thoughtful, important film by a director and actress just beginning to make
their mark.
**** of **** stars
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