Anthony's Film Review - The Farewell (2019)

This bittersweet and funny drama about a Chinese family is really a universal film for all...

If the 2018 romantic comedy film Crazy Rich Asians proved anything, it's that American-made films about Asian people, particularly Asian Americans, do have a pretty sizable market. Any studio fears about losing money from producing Asian-oriented movies should be quashed once and for all. In fact, studio execs should feel the opposite. They should be inspired by the fact that movies with Asians have an audience, and this audience is eager for more. Similarly, screenwriters and filmmakers who want to make films about Asians should be excited about the creative opportunities that are now open right in front of them.

Now, a year later, another Asian-centered movie has hit theaters. The Farewell is a comedy drama that centers on a Chinese family, with members representing both sides of the Pacific. Some are natives of China. Others have immigrated to the United States of America. The latter comprises a young woman named Billi (played by Awkwafina, who also played a supporting role in Crazy Rich Asians) who lives with her mother and father. Even as Americans, this trio has not severed ties with their relatives in China. In fact, Billi is quite close to her grandmother Nai Nai (played memorably by Shuzhen Zhou).

Regarding the plot of this movie, the only thing that needs to be mentioned is the tough family decision made to benefit one person. During a medical checkup, Nai Nai is discovered to have late-stage lung cancer, which would give her only a few months left to live. But rather than tell her this truth, as American medical doctors would do, Nai Nai's family decides to hide it from her and instead pretend that she is just fine. To help the entire family see her before she dies, a wedding is arranged in China. Billi's parents fly to China for that wedding, and Billi, who is initially told to stay behind in order to not risk revealing the cancer diagnosis, follows her parents to make a surprise visit.

While the presence of Awkwafina can get people interested in this movie, the movie doesn't really center on her as much as you think. On the contrary, the real star of the movie is Shuzhen Zhou as grandma Nai Nai. This character is just wonderful to see on screen. She is a sweet old lady who cares a lot about her family, especially as she expresses her opinions honestly and passes on valuable wisdom. We feel for her as she goes through life with a big smile, knowing nothing about the cancer she has.

We also feel for the other family members. Many of them express visible signs of sadness and nervousness because of the strong need to not disclose the cancer diagnosis to Nai Nai. In addition, they are all just as wonderful to see on screen as Nai Nai. For example, besides Billi's parents, there's the uncle who seeks an alternative Japanese treatment for Nai Nai, a young chubby cousin, the soft-spoken cousin who is the groom, and the Japanese woman who is the bride. Overall, this is a family you will come to love.

While the premise of a cancer diagnosis and the need to stay quiet can generate initial interest in the story, it's only something to provide a launching point for the movie. It's not really the central element of the plot Even if a few moments involve characters discussing that issue, the film is not really about medical ethics and the differences between American and Chinese doctors. Believe it or not, the movie is really a snapshot of ordinary life among ordinary people. Watching this film is like being invited to a Chinese family's home and experiencing what their lives are like. It's a chance for one to see Chinese culture up close, with much of the film's dialogue in Chinese with English subtitles. It truly appeals to both Asians and non-Asians alike.

From start to finish, I was engrossed in the lives of the characters in this film. They're easy to relate to because they're like people we already know. I smiled a lot throughout because of the authentic way the film portrays people of Chinese descent. I also laughed at the various moments of humor. If you ask me what my favorite scenes are, I can name several: Billi's tearjerking speech about why she is bothered by the idea of withholding a cancer diagnosis, Billi and Nai Nai bonding, a Chinese funeral where some funny objects are offered to the dead, the whole wedding itself, and what ultimately happens with Nai Nai at the end.

As writer and director, Lulu Wang has given us a story we can fall in love with. A big part of why it's authentic is that, from what I read, the life and character of Billi are based very much on Wang herself. But even if it were not partly autobiographical, the film is still a wonderfully realistic portrayal of a Chinese family. When you consider how Hollywood is very reluctant to greenlight films about Asians, and how Crazy Rich Asians is a major step forward, it's very easy to see that The Farewell provides another step along the path. At this point, anyone who wants to make a movie about Asian people should go for it. In my opinion, The Farewell definitely does not mark the end of Asians in western cinema. Rather, it marks the beginning of something more.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about The Farewell, visit the Internet Movie Database.