Checked out the new indie darling The Farewell. This movie stars Awkwafina in a more dramatic roll than we’ve seen her in so far. I’m not super familiar with her other than she’s a stand-up comedian and has been in Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians… so was curious to see her acting range. Plus the movie has been getting a lot of good buzz and has recently rolled out big enough to show up at the local theater.
The Farewell is a Chinese / Chinese-American movie about a woman living in NYC who has to return home to China when she learns her grandma is dying of cancer. But (apparently) the tradition in China when an older person is dying is to lie to them about it to save them the emotional pain. Awkwafina’s character has been living in the US long enough to think this is wrong, if not borderline criminal. But she travels home and keeps the secret, as much as it kills her inside.
This is a surprisingly good and mature film that will probably cause some emotional distress due to the excellent acting and, of course, the situation. But what I loved about it is that it was mature and smart enough to not rely on melodrama. Yes it’s about a woman who’s dying and her family who has to keep the secret and that brings out natural emotions. But the film doesn’t milk it. It’s reserved and honest, knowing that just the situation surrounded by regular family conversations, dinners, and activities is enough to craft an emotional response.
But it’s not all a big bummer. There’s comedy in the film – though not as much a comedy as the misleading trailer suggested. The humor here is more natural… things that are funny just because families can be funny in their own ways. I laughed often enough for a movie that’s ultimately still an emotional family drama.
It’s interesting in that its set in China and shows a Chinese family with their unique traditions but also that they are still as human as everyone else. There isn’t quite a traditional viewpoint character for the American audience… Awkwafina’s character is a removed from her Chinese roots but still familiar and close enough that the movie doesn’t pause to lecture and explain. I mention this just because it’s a mature and smart approach to a film that, in the past, would have to introduce a more familiar white American actor so the audience would have a way “in” to the story.
I dig this little film. Awkwafina proved she’s a powerfully good actor, going way beyond her stand-up roots and previous acting I’ve seen so far. I enjoyed this family drama with touches of humor for being intelligent, warm, and honest. Not going for easy laughs or milking melodrama.
Score: 83