Movie Review: The Farewell

In the summer of 2018, movies such as Crazy Rich Asians and The Meg, which featured Asian leads and ensembles made a splash at the box office. Having been dubbed “Asian August”, this trend continues a year later. Lulu Wang’s The Farewell is a story that many are familiar with in their own way. For some, their situation is uncanny. For others, they see wisps of their own experience. With powerful performances from Awkwafina (Billi) and Zhao Shenzhen (Nai Nai) and a well-crafted script by Wang as well, this small film packs a punch that left me feeling pensive, grateful, and raw. This film, which was released in July of 2019 and has found success in the latter half of the month into August, follows Billi Wang and her family as they deliberate on the impending death of their matriarch, Nai Nai (Billi’s grandmother). This movie looks deep into the issues of death, family, love, and loss, while also highlighting the vastly stark differences between Eastern and Western customs when it comes to the loss of a loved one.

Having been introduced to Awkwafina just last year in Gary Ross’ Ocean’s 8, I was only familiar with her strengths as a comedic actress. While The Farewell has its comedic moments, it is by and large an emotional drama. Awkwafina’s performance in this movie is breathtaking. She delivers her lines with purpose and feeling, unlike her brashness in previous films. Here, she takes on the roles of the daughter of immigrants, the awkward cousin, and the beloved granddaughter who’s been away from home for a long time, all rolled into one character. Her character struggles with the duality of considering herself a Chinese-American while simultaneously feeling detachments from both countries. For Billi (Awkwafina), her strongest attachment to her memories in China is mere months from disappearing for good.

For many people, their grandparents are their biggest fans. This was no exception for me, and I couldn’t help but be reminded of my own grandparents for the duration of this film. Nai Nai (Zhao Shenzhen), Billi’s grandmother, is the epitome of a grandma. She is kind, sweet, doting, and wise. She shares her wisdom with her granddaughter and supports her with unconditional love. Zhao Shenzhen is an absolute treasure. I was stunned at the depth of her performance and the strength that she brought throughout the film. While the film itself is only 98 minutes, most of those 98 minutes are spent learning to love Nai Nai like family of your own. Wang’s script plays with your heart strings with small, brief beats that evoke a feeling of comfort whenever Nai Nai enters the picture. Then comes the feeling of gratitude. By the end of the film, not only was I feeling more grateful for the time I shared with my grandparents, but I also felt grateful for the time I spent with Nai Nai as well.

This movie, along with many, was one that I anticipated for many months. After seeing the first trailers for this film I knew that this film was something I needed to see. There are many beautiful moments in this film, as well as painful ones. There are very few movies that have satisfied my anticipation as well as this one has. The Farewell teaches you how to love. It teaches you how to say goodbye. It teaches you to appreciate what you have and to keep your loved ones dear. There is an underlying lesson throughout this film, that no matter how out of place you feel, family will always be a place where you can find love.

Rating: 10/10