I'd heard rave reviews about this film and I was very glad to have watched it.
However, it's not going to blow you away. It's a very nice film with good performances. But it isn't a 10/10 by any means.
The concept is a wonderful one. Yet it seems to limp to an ending in the last act - and not the one you'd think.
It's charming, well acted, has plenty of heart, seems an accurate depiction of Chinese beliefs - so it's well worth a watch. Best to taper expectations though.
7.5/10
I bit slower of a movie than I typically like, but it’s easily Awkwafina’s best role! She was great and serves as both a comedic relief while being the protagonist (much like Aubrey Plaza movies). I really enjoyed this one!
Rating: 4/5 - 85% - Would Recommend
I always liked Awkwafina since I've seen her Shang Chi and I feel she's got way more talent than what we've seen so far. This is a step in the right direction, wonderful movie. But I think we haven't seen the best of Awkwafina yet.
The end, when Nai Nai was waving broke me.
What an amazing story! Awkwafina, as we have never seen her before, is exceptional in this performance. Spectacular writing of a story from the writers own life, cleverly described as “a true story based on a lie “. Splendid performances from an ensemble cast. Nominated for 189 awards, 35 of which it won. I give this film a 9 (exceptional) out of 10. [Drama]
A deeply moving ensemble piece, that is both hilarious and heartfelt. It wrestles with the idea of not knowing what to do that would best serve a loved one, especially when cultures and beliefs clash. The whole thing felt about as authentic as you can get.
I love Asian family dramas but with all the praise and high ratings for this one, I kind of felt underwhelmed at the end.
It's a good movie but not as exceptional as Eat Drink Man Woman or The Joy Luck Club.
What a mundane, boring and depressing piece of work. I want my hour and a half back...
"Chinese people have saying, when people get cancer they die. It's not cancer that kills them, it's the fear."
Oh Lulu. OH Lulu. OH LULU WANG. This movie is fantastic. If you have a grandmother that is still alive (or any close relative tbh), go give her a hug. This movie had me thinking about my life and how I would handle certain situations, and I am glad it did. Oh, and that tagline is amazing: Based on an actual lie.
I watched this as part of a watch party put on by the DC Public Library and found it to be amazing. This is the kind of drama you can relate to (especially if you are from an immigrant family, even if not a Chinese one). Awkwafina's acting chops are amazing, but the rest of the cast shone as well; everyone was phenomenal. Watch the bonus material as well (it's online; find it by googling) and you'll gain even more context for the movie; then rewatch the movie. I hope this movie gets a novelization soon because it is a story worth the paper.
A very moving film; uplifting, sad, and sometimes pretty funny. Goodbyes are always difficult, especially when they are final, and this film resonated with me in a very real way.
Lovely, warm, real, funny and sad... beautiful movie, well made, well acted and keeps a light touch, managing to deal with the sad topic of a terminally ill beloved family member in a way that is not overly heavy or depressing. Actually it has a lovely up-turn at the end speaking about our connectedness to others, despite geographic distances. As a side note, I LOVE Awkwafina's voice, a lot like Scarlett Johansson's, warm and fuzzy.
Such a great film, and a good dive into Chinese culture. The acting was great, especially Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen. I loved how real it all felt
"This smart film deftly mixes comedy and tragedy, and manages to be heartfelt without being cloying or sentimental."
This is a subtle movie about the differences that separate us. In this film a girl in college struggles to connect with her family. Her family in turn struggles to reconcile the differences in both generations and new country vs. old country. When a presumed tragedy strikes at the beginning of the film the main characters are sent into a tizzy about how to handle it. That is, all but one. I think this movie was an excellent subtle commentary on how to live life.
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When a Chinese family finds out that the family’s matriarch is dying of lung cancer, complications arise. In Chinese culture, there is a saying that when you get cancer, you die. This actually boils down to the belief that it’s not the cancer that leads to the person’s death, but rather the fear of dying. As such, the family orchestrates an elaborate ruse to get everyone together for a wedding, but in reality the gathering is for everyone to be able to say goodbye to the grandmother without actually letting her know the truth.
It’s a fascinating premise and based on a true story (or based on an actual lie, as the film puts it). Showing aspects of Chinese culture we rarely get to see, the film takes us on a journey to China as we see modern life and urban development. How accurate it really is, I can’t attest to, and there are times that it feels like there should be more or that something is more complex and we’re being given the fortune cookie version, so to speak. The film does steer clear of politics, so that is not a factor here.
This is a beautiful film not just through visual aesthetics but also on a character level. We see how each character faces the impending death of the grandmother differently, such as the daughter-in-law being very matter of fact about it while her husband (the grandmother’s son) is being torn up inside, all while the wise and experienced grandmother continues to dispense advice, oblivious to her diagnosis. It details the variety of relationships we can develop in our life as no two relationships are the same, but they all still love each other despite some distance between certain relatives. There’s something that, despite the comedic premise (it’s sort of a comedy that’s not particularly funny), is very grounded and very real. I couldn’t help but see some of my own relationships reflected on the screen.
Beautiful, heartbreaking, and at the same time somewhat hopeful, “The Farewell” comes highly recommended.
To more movies like this, please! :seedling:
"All About Nai-Nai (2019)"
A beautiful movie about family. Awkwafina is fantastic and I thought Zhao Shuzhen did a great job as well.
Shout by Saint PaulyBlockedParent2020-01-08T20:29:10Z
Hmm, who'd have thought China would be so not different than anywhere else? Don't get me wrong, I liked The Farewell and will recommend it because everyone tells me I have to (and Awkwafina was truly charming as herself, though I was more impressed with her playing Danny Devito in Jumanji: The Next Level), but all the stellar reviews had led me to believe the film was going to move me more than just to the local theater.