Review: The Farewell

If Awkwafina cries, I cry, it’s just on sight.

I’ve never seen a movie like this before. It’s rare enough to see myself represented in a film… I never even considered it possible to see my entire family represented on-screen. I think the key to resonating with an audience member’s life experiences is the little genuine moments, taken directly out of real life, as if the director is letting you know: “I’ve experienced this too”. The film was a feast of those small, genuine moments, and they were the driving force of the plot, rather than added on top or sprinkled in between plot points.

Lulu Wang shows us the beauty and tragedy of a family united in grief - the conflict, the love, the fear, and the humour that surfaces regardless of it all.

I’m going to cherish this movie for a long time.

Viewed at Angelika Film Center in NYC, with a Q&A from Awkwafina afterwards.

4.5 / 5 stars.

Originally posted to my Letterboxd.