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.