The Farewell
Movie Review
The Farewell is a story “based on a lie,” where a Chinese family shows their love for their matriarch, Nai Nai, by convincing her that she is healthy rather than telling her that she has a terminal illness. The movie unfolds through the perspective of Billie, an Asian American young woman who loves her grandma and grapples really hard with the decision to lie to her. I was so struck by how beautiful and touching this movie was, from the beautiful cinematography to the incredible script. There are so many scenes that were memorable, and I was engaged from beginning to end.
Lulu Wang, the director, is able to masterfully capture sincere moments between family members and show a side to Chinese culture that western audiences probably have never seen. As an Asian American myself, I strongly identify with many of these characters’ experiences, such as the feeling of being at large Chinese family gatherings or being nagged by an uncle. In addition to being an emotional and touching film it was also hilarious in subtle ways. I feel like there are some jokes that Chinese Americans can relate to more strongly just because of a shared experience. For instance, when Billie’s uncle was walking Billie to her hotel and repeatedly telling her why Nai Nai’s illness must be kept a secret, she responds to everything he says with “I know” (“wo zhi dao” in Chinese). She sounds comically bored and robotic, and I find this scene hilarious because it mirrors the experiences I would have with my own Chinese family members!
In my eyes, this film truly captures something beautiful and unforgettable, and each actor/actress brings out the brilliance of the script through their performances. Awkwafina plays Billie, the main character. She delivers on every scene with her expressions, and in particular, I remember a scene where her uncle is sobbing through a speech and the camera pans to her face. There, the audience can find a perfect mixture of horror, concern, and shock as she reacts to seeing the most stern member of the family breaking down and almost giving the lie away. I’m so happy that Awkwafina has shown such a wide range through this role. In addition, Zhao ShuZhen, who plays Nai Nai, is a renowned actress in China for good reason, as she delivers her lines perfectly on screen. Zhao truly captivated me in the wedding photoshoot scene with Billie, as well as the final scene with the taxi driving away. I felt every emotion with that ending, as it reminded me of my own grandma.
The bottom line is, I loved this film, and I think it is truly one of the best ones I have ever seen that captures the Chinese family experience from a Western filmmaker. It gives such an interesting perspective that is neither complimentary nor critical. And most of all, it tells a story that is true and meaningful, and familial love radiates through every scene of this movie.