ScoopStaff
After learning their beloved matriarch has terminal lung cancer, a family opts not to tell her about the diagnosis, instead scheduling an impromptu wedding-reunion back in China. Headstrong and emotional writer Billi rebels against her parents’ directive to stay in New York and joins the family as they awkwardly attempt to rekindle old bonds, throw together a wedding that only grandma is actually looking forward to, and surreptitiously say their goodbyes. A heartfelt celebration of both the way we perform family and the way we live it, THE FAREWELL masterfully interweaves a gently humorous depiction of the good lie in action with a thoughtful exploration of how our cultural heritage does and does not travel with us when we leave our homes. Writer/director Lulu Wang imbues THE FAREWELL with warmth and knowing wit, while the uniformly excellent ensemble cast (anchored by a breakout performance by Awkwafina) invites us to share this extended clan’s joy and sorrow–and to feel, for the len
Specification: The Farewell
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Dhamilton –
This movie asks us all to consider what is better-to always tell the truth and break a spirit, or tell a lie that keeps one strong. I loved this movie! I was able to consider a different way of being with family, information, and my role within my family. Aquafina was really great!
Bear –
So few movies represent the Asian community. I am Jewish and Japanese through marriage. The two cultures have many similarities. One big exception is Jewish families talk about everything!! The Japanese side is very hush hush about everything. I adored this movie! Aqua Fina was phenomenal! A serious acting role not anything like her character in Rich Crazy Asians.
M. Liebswager –
don’t be a cinefile and just enjoy this unique, culturally lush story
Michael Grenfell –
We saw this film at the cinema and it’s really excellent. But this is sold on Amazon UK, but fails to disclose that it is usable only on US region DVD players, and therefore unusable by UK consumers. Utterly useless; shameful that it is not disclosed.
Amy –
The first movie I’ve seen that captures the experience of being an ABC, at least in many of the ways I have experienced growing us as a Chinese looking girl in America. The characters reminded me so much of my family and my visits to China in my Chinese as a second language.
CChauncey –
As an Asian person, I think the Asian cast and slightly exotic setting and circumstances helped this movie out a lot review wise, because it’s really more of a Lifetime movie. Very one note. Except for a scene where she cries, it’s just kind of a series of scenes where Awkwafina is trying to contain her emotions. “Should we tell her?” is discussed and explored on repeat. The performances are very cutesy and one note as well. Was expecting a lot more.
Allan Yee –
I really enjoyed this film. Having only seen Awkwafina’s previous performance in Crazy Rich Asians, her acting in this earlier film was a revelation. The audio commentary by the director on the Blu-ray disc also added more valuable background to the film well beyond the first time I saw it in the theatre. Finally, being Chinese, we continue to make annual formal visits to the graves of my grandparents, so I thought the cemetery scene in the movie was quite funny.
Jill Long –
Had the wrong DVD player for an American DVD.
silent g –
This film is about being an immigrant and dealing with loss. The protagonist is stuck between two different cultural ways of handling a terminal disease. Torn between the two and her love for her grandmother–who appears to also symbolize the warmth of a childhood that is now forever gone, Billi also realizes there is no way of going back, really. I am not Chinese, but this film resonates so much more than being a Chinese American and explores that in-betweenness, where one is forever stuck once one leaves a place to live in another. No trip back will be a real return because what is left behind is never the same.
The Farewell is a beautifully made film with a seemingly simple story. When it finishes, you may not think it hit you with a bang, but it does stay with you for a longtime and haunt you with its humaneness, little moments, and the phenomenal soundtrack that captures the affect of the film so well. The Farewell is an excellent example of how a story is told makes all the difference.
I saw some people marked the film as boring. If you are into fast-paced Hollywood films and need to be entertained at all times, yes this may not be the film for you. However, taste is socially constructed, and that judgment might say more about you than about the film.
The Farewell is a film made with much warmth, gentleness, and an excellent sense of humor. I highly recommend it.
Aunt Beth –
Read the other reviews for in-depth takes on the movie. I’m giving it 4 stars because I enjoyed the film, but got eye strain from trying to read the sub-titles. There is a lot of white type on white or light background that made some of the conversations impossible to follow.
Gryphonisle –
Do they use out takes for trailers? I remember the hospital scene in the trailer playing as if they’re discussing Nai Nai’s cancer with the doctor, in English, the doc presuming she doesn’t speak the language, until Aqufina’s character points out Nai Nai studied in the US and does, yet in the movie it plays as if Nai Nai doesn’t speak English and so isn’t understanding the discussion, which of course does not deliver the joke as the scene in the trailer did.
Ah well.
The Farewell is a quietly funny film once again dealing with the differences arising from being domestic Chinese vs Chinese from abroad, in this case from the US. Here the differences arise mostly from Awkwafina’s character, who on learning that her grandmother has been diagnosed with cancer is also told that no one in the family wants her to go back as they all feel she’ll blow the secret. No one has told Nai Nai as is apparently Chinese custom; they feel the news of her mortality would unnecessarily burden her. Awkwafina shows up anyway, to everyone’s surprise and Nai Nai’s delight. A some have noted, she does seem to be a one tone character, with a stooped shoulder droopy face stance in most scenes. While she’s still the liveliest of the bunch, she’s not the wise cracking smart ass Awkwafina has made a name for. There’s also not a lot going on elsewhere in the family. Was it “Monsoon Wedding” where a similar international family gathering, in the Old Country, for a wedding (as is the stated premise here) that the audience not only moves towards the climatic moment but also learns some dramatic news about members of the family, from pedophilia to spousal abuse in the process? None of that here. It seems that the “happy couple” getting married aren’t all that happy to be getting hitched and even Nai Nai suspects something is off, yet we never go there. Even the end of the film is a bit of a wheeze. It seems as if the director was afraid to look behind closed doors and bring out the backstories that might have made this film meatier.
All in all entertaining, in a somber yet still humorous manner. But it the depth mortality should bring to such a film.
jenn_2100 –
It came in USA format although ordered on UK site. Although the format was displayed way down in the details – who looks there when just ordering a standard DVD on a UK site. Seller refused to refund postal costs.
Jutte –
This dvd will not play on UK DVD players.
Other reviews stated this and so I have looked carefully at the listing and “product details”. I’m not sure if it’s because I access amazon on the app but I cannot find anywhere in this listing that this is disclosed.
Seller claims it does in “the title” which as of the time of writing this just says “The Farewell”.
Even the dvd box itself doesn’t say which region it actually is.
I have messaged the seller suggesting they stop marketing this item on amazon.co.uk when so many UK buyers are being wrongfooted out of money.