The review:
Lulu Wang’s The Farewell is a quiet bit of funny and sad as we watch Billi (Awkwafina) come to terms with her Chinese grandmother’s terminal cancer diagnosis.* Shuzhen Zhao (Nai Nai—the grandmother) is a delight, full of vim and opinions and ways to get rid of the negative energy. It’s a movie full of moments that weave together into a loving portrait of a family spread far apart by geography but with a very close bond.
The verdict: Recommended
Cost: $6.00
Where watched: The Hollywood Theatre, with S. North (who paid, because I forgot my wallet)
Consider also watching:
Further sentences:
*Complicating the diagnosis: in China it’s common to withhold the diagnosis from the patient so everyone must act as if the family is only gathering for a family wedding.
Favorite IMDB trivia item:
In addition to writing and directing, Lulu Wang also plays piano on the film’s soundtrack.