Written by Devon Forward. Published: July 24 2019
The Farewell
Did you think a year ago that you’d see Awkwafina kill it in a serious drama role like this? Directed by Lulu Wang, The Farewell is about a family who, after learning that their grandmother has cancer, decide not to tell her that she’s dying, instead taking an impromptu trip to China to say goodbye to her without her knowing. The film is based on a story told on "This American Life" and currently stands at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes! Awkwafina is amazing as Billi, a Chinese-American woman who doesn’t agree with her family’s traditional way of handling this situation. She goes on the trip trying to hide the truth from her grandmother, but Billi thinks she deserves to know. The Farewell is a family drama, but it also realistically explores cultural differences, as well as the experience of being an immigrant in America. It’s topical and heartfelt, and one of the best films of the year.
Did you think a year ago that you’d see Awkwafina kill it in a serious drama role like this? Directed by Lulu Wang, The Farewell is about a family who, after learning that their grandmother has cancer, decide not to tell her that she’s dying, instead taking an impromptu trip to China to say goodbye to her without her knowing. The film is based on a story told on "This American Life" and currently stands at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes! Awkwafina is amazing as Billi, a Chinese-American woman who doesn’t agree with her family’s traditional way of handling this situation. She goes on the trip trying to hide the truth from her grandmother, but Billi thinks she deserves to know. The Farewell is a family drama, but it also realistically explores cultural differences, as well as the experience of being an immigrant in America. It’s topical and heartfelt, and one of the best films of the year.
What indies films are YOU loving this year?!