The Farewell is a powerful drama, which is based on an actual lie - in contrast to the based-on-a-true-story characterization. In Chinese culture, it's common to lie to your elders if they have a fatal diagnosis, in order to prevent them from living their final moments in fear. Thus, the family stages a fake wedding in order for everyone to come back home and enjoy the last moments with their beloved matriarch.
Chinese American Billi (Awkwafina) is struggling to live out her dreams as an aspiring writer in New York City. With one foot in both the Chinese world of her past and the American world of her future, Billi tries to be the perfect child and granddaughter that she's expected to be.
But when Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhao), her stubborn yet charming grandmother, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Billi's family decides they will both hide that information from her, as well as plan a last-minute, fake wedding for her cousin to bring the whole family together to see her in her final days.
Billi struggles to rein in her emotions for one of her favorite humans, because if she cracks, then the ruse will be up. Ever watchful and aware of how much Billi loves Nai Nai, her parents and the rest of her family watch nervously from the sidelines as Billi attempts to enjoy these last moments despite the ominous and inevitable verdict.
The gallows humor commands many laugh out loud moments, in spite of subject matter. The acting is phenomenal throughout and really sells the intimate, tender, and awkward moments - which are abundant. Beneath the deception is an overarching philosophy exploring how far a family might go to enjoy those last few moments with their loved one, as well as the company of each other.
Written and directed by Lulu Wang (Touch, Posthumous) a realistic sense of family love permeates every scene in the film. She shows that there are numerous ways to look at the actions and interactions of all her unique characters. The Farewell makes a bold statement from a 'saving face' culture, and it equally and non-judgmentally explores what people do when faced with difficult choices. Wang makes it a treat to watch them all shine on screen.
Ultimately, there's so much to love in The Farewell that it's inevitably sweet and poignant, and it strikes a chord of truth. This story of an elaborate lie tells universal truths that are easy to relate to, with quirky characters who are easy to fall in love with. The combination of the film's masterful emotional resonance and comedic moments resulting in deep, organic belly laughs should please movie-goers everywhere.