The Farewell (dir. by Lulu Wang, 2019)

Building upon a morally complex and intriguing premise, The Farewell tells a touching and poignant story about cultural difference, family politics, and the powerful emotions of grief and guilt. Written and directed by Chinese-American filmmaker Lulu Wang and based on her own experiences, it’s a uniquely specific film that has a resounding universality that anyone can relate to.

The Farewell centres on Billi (Awkwafina), an aspiring but unsuccessful writer who lives in New York having emigrated to America with her family when she was a child. She is still close to her grandmother Nai Nai (Zhao Shu-zhen), whom she calls on a regular basis to check up on. However, after Billi’s father (Tzi Ma) discovers Nai Nai has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, a diagnosis that has been kept from Nai Nai herself, the whole family decides to return to China under the guise of visiting for a cousin’s wedding, when in fact they all return to say goodbye to their beloved matriarch.

It’s a very human and personal story that Wang tells with a tender and sensitive touch. She knows when the film needs to be sad; she knows when it needs to be funny. The witty dialogue and humour come across even though most of the film is in Mandarin. The different family members piece together just like any believable family do, and underlying tensions and admirations always manage to spill out in uncomfortable ways. A prime example of this is the dinner scene, where two halves of the family politely butt heads over the differences between Chinese and American cultures.

The way the film provides an accessible window into a culture many of us are unfamiliar with is a truly great strength. Wang deftly explores the bi-cultural experience through Billi’s character, and Awkwafina is brilliant in embodying it. It’s truly a crime this film was shut out of last year’s awards, as both Wang and Awkwafina were deserving of recognition for their work.

Billi’s fish out of water position in China is mixed with a nostalgic memory of her childhood, a dilemma she has to come to grips with while also tackling the idea of keeping her own grandmother’s fate from her. Awkwafina portrays all the emotions that come with this in a truly delightful and melancholy fashion. She manages to shed the comedic skin she is usually known for to deliver one of 2019’s most down to earth leading performances.

As well as the touching and genuinely moving story, the film looks fantastic as well. Wang’s vertigo inducing shots of China’s numerous high-rise apartment buildings gives a sense of both admiration and anxiety. The quaint nature of Nai Nai’s traditional flat clashes with the kitsch artificiality of the various wedding events, adding another layer of depth to the film’s exploration of modern Chinese culture. The camera is always carefully composed, which results in some lovely looking frames that match the tone of the film.

The Farewell is one of 2019’s unsung heroes. Although quite a simple story, it manages to unfold in heart-warming and surprising ways that anyone would love to see. If anything, it’ll make you appreciate your relationship with your grandmother even more.