The Farewell Review

THIS FILM IS BASED ON AN ACTUAL LIE! The Farewell tells the story of Billi, an American raised Chinese girl and her family who finds out her grandmother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In a controversial to American audiences but totally within culture for a Chinese family, they decide NOT to tell the grandmother of her incoming death due to the illness. The family readies itself to go to China to stage a fake(ish) wedding so they can all see her one more time, telling Billi, who is the most American of them all not come because she not only disagrees with the choice, but will show her emotions and give it away. She disobeys her parents and shows up for the faux wedding.

This film is as funny as it is heartbreaking, even though my heart never really broke. It certainly got close. The film begins with several minutes of all the characters on screen lying to each other about every little thing thats happening to them and it sets the tone. You truly feel for all of the characters and the corners they have backed themselves into. Almost everyone disagrees with the decision to not inform Nai Nai but due to cultural pressure and norms they don’t dare attend. Grandma knows whats up without knowing. She constantly asks the family visiting why the look so sad and down all the time and it gives the film the levity it needs. The films touches on aspects of family and leaving your country behind for greener pastures which may not actually exist. Billi is always left wondering if her parents made the right call in moving to America.

The film is shot incredibly well. Throughout the entire film I think I saw one shot/reverse shot for all of the conversation scenes of which the film is mostly comprised of. Flat shots like the one above really convey the emotion the film is trying to invoke. Lulu Wang’s ability to compose shots with so many of the family in one shot shows that although this is only her second feature film, her instincts as a filmmaker are on display in full.

The films humor comes from its natural setting and characters. They have the same reactions I had watching the film, feelings of doubt, anger, and eventual acceptance. The film is really about how Billi is dealing with all this and the lessons she learns that she will bring back to America with her. As heavy as the story gets, it never weighs down the characters. Everyone is putting forward their best face for Nai Nai and in the end they all get to say farewell. The film does throw a happy twist at you at the end. Thematically, the film is really about how all interactions in life are not necessarily about just you and that navigating life is just as much about others. The ones you are inevitably stuck with and the ones you choose to interact with. This film makes me excited to see what Wang has on the horizon, as I enjoyed this film from beginning to end. So go call your grandma if you can.