By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.25
Director: Lulu Wang
Starring: Awkwafina | Diana Lim | Jim Liu | Shuzhen Zhao | Tzi Ma
Country: united_states
Year: 2019
Running time: 100
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8637428/reference
Chris says: “Putting aside its novel narrative hook (‘based on an actual lie”), THE FAREWELL is the latest in a long tradition of family wedding films; it’s also one of the more relatable, realistic depictions of such I’ve seen in recent memory. Admittedly, I haven’t been to a Chinese wedding, but the rituals, the interactions, the messiness that comes with planning one hundred little details–it all rings true, even it’s all a simulation to get a fractured family together one last time to see its dying matriarch (without telling her she’s actually dying.) I’d like to think Lulu Wang was influenced by Ang Lee’s somewhat forgotten THE WEDDING BANQUET, where one can swap a lie about illness with one regarding the groom’s sexuality, but this feels closer to the recent work of a great contemporary, Hirokazu Kore-eda. Awkwafina effortlessly displays a range far beyond even her great sidekick turn in CRAZY RICH ASIANS, but do n’t forget Shuzhen Zhao, who is perfection as the matriarch. 4.5 cats”
Diane says: “I’m giving this one 2 cats. I assume it is autobiographical and Billi (Awkwafina) is a stand-in for the director. Wang is better able to portray the figures she loves (e.g., matriarch—yes, fine perf) than those she’s conflicted about (Billi, and Billi’s parents). That left me with confusion about Billi’s circumstances and inner life. A late emotional spew would have been unnecessary had Wang played it as subtext all along. And I was disappointed in Awkwafina after seeing her for the first time in CRAZY RICH ASIANS. Better as a cultural study than as a personal story. 2 cats“