‘The Farewell’ is a comedy-drama film. The plot follows Billie (Awkwafina), a young woman who has to go to China for her cousin’s wedding. However, before she goes, she finds out that her Grandmother (Zhao Shuzhen), has stage 4 lung cancer, but her family don’t want anyone to tell her Gran about it as there is nothing to be done. The film is based on a real-life true story.
This film raises a lot of good ethical questions about what you should and shouldn’t do when you find out one of your relatives is dying. It also shows the difference between East and West in our societal views and our views on family.
Before seeing this film, I was not a huge fan of Awkwafina I thought she was fine, but she had never done anything to blow me away. However, this film and her performance in it completely blew me away with how powerful it is: she sells the emotion so well. You can see how much Billie loves her Grandmother and, the fact that not being able to tell her is tearing her apart.
The relationship between these two women is strong and deeply emotional though they are different people and, are symbolic of different ways of life, East Vs, West again, you can see the bond they share, and it is very affecting. This is furthered by the fact that the relationship between Billie and, the rest of her family seems strained. When Billie and her mum and dad moved to the States, it seems to have pushed them further away from their family. Not only is there this distance in the wider family unit but, also within the close immediate family. Part of what makes Billies relationship with her Grandmother so special is the fact that she and her mother seem at odds throughout much of the film; this highlights how her Grandmother might be her main female role model possibly.
My one issue with what is otherwise a very beautiful film is that the rest of Billie’s family are given very little to do, the story mainly focuses on Billie and her reaction to the fact her Grandmother is dying; the story is essentially the tale of these two women. However, as a result of this, the rest of her family come off as bit players they’re there and, might have the odd line or two, but they serve no real purpose.
The final sequence of the film Billie and her Grandmother having an emotional goodbye, followed then by us seeing how her Grandmother has impacted her life, and the reveal that the Grandmother is still alive is not only heartwarming, but it packs an emotional punch; I challenge you not to cry.
Pros.
Awkwafina.
The Ethical Questions It Raises.
The Relationship Between Billie And Her Grandmother.
The Emotion.
Cons.
The Family Are Wasted.
4/5
Reviewed by Luke
Another Millennial Reviewer 