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Farewell
18TC (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
2020
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Farewell
Positive Reviews
235
Average Rating
4.0
/5
impressive
rewarding
american
emotional
unique
All
Positive
Negative
5.0
Its a rare film that has the power to make you laugh, cry, and laugh again as deftly as this does.
Den Of Geek
3.8
On screen, Awkwafina can feel more like a personality than an actress; still, she finds something appealingly honest and vulnerable in Billi.
EW
4.2
A bittersweet look at a young woman contending with her Chinese familys many generational conflicts.
Indie Wire
-
But The Farewell doesnt aim for the kind of big laughs a film such as The Big Sick strives to inspire, not does it lean quite so heavily into its more ..
Variety
4.0
The riotously awkward event (reminiscent of a low key version of the bogus party in Ang Lees The Wedding Banquet) veers toward the melancholic.
Time Out
4.0
Ultimately, its all about balance, a yin and yang of roots and identities, humour and pathos that comes together into a satisfying, bittersweet weddin ..
The Guardian
4.0
Animals review untamed female friendship drama is a Sundance triumph Read more Its a statement of intent, informing the industry right from the outset ..
The Guardian
4.4
Then theres Andrei Tarkovskys Stalker, which transfigures Arkady and Boris Strugatskys briskly paced novella Roadside Picnic into a slow, mesmerizing ..
5.0
When each of us contains multitudes, The Farewell suggests, home is everywhere, or anywhere we happen to be.
-
Billi tells her shes wearing a hat when shes not; Nai Nai tells her shes at her sisters house when shes not.
Screen Daily
3.8
Billi doesnt tell her parents she didnt get a fellowship because she doesnt want to disappoint them.
Collider
-
Its a move we are told isnt all that uncommon in Chinese families.)
Vulture
3.0
Shes the center of an impeccably cast ensemble all drawn with deep personal investment and keen eyed observation of complex Chinese family dynamics, m ..
The Hollywood Reporter
4.5
Sometimes, the movie argues, its the things we dont say that prove how much we care. Billis path to acceptance of this makes The Farewell one of the m ..
0.0
Wang turns her frustration and bewilderment into a gentle exploration of the cultural differences and generational schisms that have, over the years, ..
The New York Times
3.0
Wangs family story is modestly affecting and deserves an audience, but if it does prompt thoughts about weighing up the importance of emotional truth, ..
Telegraph
-
But industry sexism isnt the movies only, or even principal, subject.
5.0
The film is strengthened by Awkwafinas nuanced and devastatingly heartfelt performance.
The Young Folks
4.0
Both a vehicle for Awkwafinas formidable talents and an incredibly charming ensemble piece.
4.0
You can read that it comes from a personal and passionate place, and the real deep thought about what it all means is palpable as the philosophical qu ..
Cinema Blend
4.5
Thanks to Wangs deeply personal direction and Awkwafinas subtly profound performance, The Farewell offers a touching and truly authentic experience.
Screen Rant
4.4
It is a slice of truth, humour and heart, all delivered with supreme conviction.
The Globe And Mail
3.8
So Nai Nai thinks shes just suffering from the aftereffects of a bad cold.
One Guys Opinion
3.8
Aspiring (and failing) New York writer, Billi (Awkwafina, aka Nora Lum) doesnt see Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhao) very often.
Rogers Movie Nation
4.4
Despite this, however, theres a universality of emotion involved.
ReelViews
3.8
Its a searching picture, not a spongy one, with Wang impressively detailing culture shock with a cast of capable performers.
Blu Ray
3.0
What follows is a series of hackneyed scenes about the different interpersonal relationships within the family, centering on the heroines bond with he ..
Chicago Reader
3.8
Its a considerable act of narrative and tonal juggling thats thought provoking (The family makes a good case for their deception), patient, equally ob ..
Mark Reviews Movies
3.8
I came out of seeing The Farewell and my thought was That was my Nana!
3.8
Wang excels with this mixture of levity and heart tugs, personified in Mr. Li, Nai Nais dismissively treated live in boyfriend who shuffles about like ..
2.5
...the filmmaker delivers an often excessively subdued drama that contains few wholeheartedly compelling or emotional sequences...
Reel Film Reviews
2.5
I kept waiting for something to happen in the plot of the movie and then it was over. Oh yes, Awkwafina was very good.
You Tube
3.0
Magnificent screen presence. I thought it was really lovely. I thought it was really funny. I thought it was really moving. You will laugh, you will c ..
You Tube
4.2
A charming portrait of a family struggle. Beautiful performances and an unexpected and very welcome ending.
You Tube
5.0
But behind the forced smiles, this is a family grieving in advance. The director Lulu Wang doesnt resolve every moment but rather lets it breathe as w ..
You Tube
3.5
Awkwafina gives an outstanding performance in this film, along with the rest of the cast in this low key Chinese family drama. The drama is also light ..
Lariat
4.0
Its an upbeat, joyous and life affirming experience thats conveyed via a subtitled global melange of Mandarin, English and some Japanese.
Radio Times
-
Wang goes straight for the messy stuff theres no thornier subject than death, after all.
Independent
4.5
The deception does not sit well with the scrupulous Billi a writer based in Brooklyn who isnt exactly being honest about the fact thats shes been turn ..
Rolling Stone
4.0
While the film plays with issues of old world values and modern sensibilities, Wang never seems to be pushing a message. Shes simply telling a story f ..
Shadows On The Wall
3.0
Of course, the mere fact that The Farewell is rooted in reality doesnt make it great, but the way Wang uses the premise to examine ethical and cultura ..
Decider
3.8
The real star is Shuzhen Zhao, who plays the grandmother. Her Nai Nai is a blend of indomitability, charm, shrewdness, and puckish delight.
Cs Monitor
3.0
Its a textured, marvelous performance that shows remarkable versatility.
New York Post
5.0
Simply put, The Farewell is one of the best movies youll see this year.
Deseret News (Salt Lake Ci ..
4.0
The Farewell is an unexpected movie because of its overall direction.
Az Central
4.0
The film is too gentle for that, with too much affection for its characters.
Smh
4.4
The deep compassion of The Farewell lifts it above its absurd premise.
Toronto Star
3.0
As a family portrait, The Farewell is full of lovingly sketched complex characters and delicately layered interpersonal dynamics.
Slate
4.0
The affection and complexity of this familial unit colours every candid exchange, coping mechanism, karaoke number and drunken speech, resulting in a ..
Flim List
3.0
If you ever hear someone saying Hollywood cant make great original stories anymore, show them The Farewell.
Film Inquiry
-
Still a Great Showcase for Lulu Wangs Directorial Abilities But this being said, I cant help but admire The Farewell in spite of my overall lukewarm r ..
Film Inquiry
-
Instead, theres an enchanting mingling of comedy and melancholy, in a series of small set pieces that feel emotionally big.
Empire
4.0
Compassionate, endearing comic drama about inter generational bonding. Its cinematic success proves that diversity is good business.
Susang Ranger
3.8
A film that movingly shows the importance of taking advantage of fleeting chances and closing windows is itself the rarest of opportunities.
Observer
4.0
Theres a reason for this, but it doesnt take away from how charming she is or make the performance feel fake.
Flickering Myth
4.0
Early on, we see Billi stare forlornly at some new high rise buildings extending seemingly endlessly into the sky and theres discussion later on about ..
Flickering Myth
4.0
Billis parents are so adamant about not telling Nai Nai; they suggest Billi doesnt come to China because they dont trust her emotions.
Flim Threet
-
As it stands, though, the movie is compact, coolly heartwarming, and gratifyingly uncute.
New Yorker
4.2
Bittersweet, touching and always funny, The Farewell is lived in from top to toe.
The Film Stage
4.4
While Wang may stint occasionally on the sort of character detail separating a very good film from a great one, The Farewell takes you to a humanely e ..
Chicago Tribune
4.0
She doesnt rate the Japanese bride, even though the latter proves a paragon of smiling, good sportsmanship, one of many lovely details in the margins.
The Irish Times
-
While the film is too convoluted to stir boxoffice excitement, it offers some rewards for sophisticated moviegoers.
Hollywood Reporter
-
Wang distinguishes herself as a thrilling new voice in filmmaking by crafting one of the most sensitively told stories of the year.
The Atlantic
5.0
This doesnt sit well with Billi, who doesnt understand the need for the deception and would prefer to be honest with her beloved grandmother.
Lyles Movie Files
3.0
But the movies earnestness in suggesting there can be something good about communicating love through unspoken gestures manages to infect the audience ..
Birth Movies Death
3.0
But thats all it is, so watch out for the hype its currently enjoying.
Birth Movies Death
5.0
So many schmaltzy and cartoonish movies celebrate good liars (see Life Is Beautiful).
Standard
-
Their grief bleeding out repetitive justifications, snarky barbs, hangdog expressions, and fitful tears they wont explain.
Pajiba
5.0
She shows how melodrama isnt a bad word, her ability to weave so many dissimilar emotional cadences inside her rich, distinctly personal tapestry beyo ..
Movie Freak
3.8
This smart film deftly mixes comedy and tragedy, and manages to be heartfelt without being cloying or sentimental.
Detroit News
-
But The Farewell doesnt aim for the kind of big laughs a film such as The Big Sick strives to inspire, not does it lean quite so heavily into its more ..
Variety
4.4
The setup makes for genuinely amusing light farce, but in their patient observation, Wang and cinematographer Anna Franquesa Solano conjure a heartfel ..
Groucho Reviews
0.0
The Farewell says a whole lot about grief, guilt and determining whats important in life, while still providing its share of laughs.
Cnn
4.5
This exquisite experience is not depressing in the slightest. Conversely, you will leave in a state of hope and happiness most movies could never hope ..
Herald Sun
3.0
Its naturalistic without feeling downbeat, farcical without being goofy, and treats its cultural signposts with a sensitivity and honesty few filmmake ..
Consequence Of Sound
5.0
Billi, whos spent most of her life in New York City, isnt convinced.
Vox
4.2
The Farewells simple manner makes for a knockout of emotional resonance.
The Play List
5.0
Theres a nightmare version of this movie thats all about wacky misunderstandings, with grandkids covertly slipping pills into Nai Nais dumplings and s ..
Now Toronto
4.0
Those expecting another bright, glossy Crazy Rich Asians imitator should probably look elsewhere.
Cine Vue
4.0
It is heartfelt and beautifully observed, so while everyone on screen is doing their utmost to hold back tears, yours will come unchecked.
Games Radar
3.8
The Farewell is informative of Chinese customs, very dramatic, and surprisingly very comedic despite the heavy subject matter.
You Tube
4.5
is wonderful, and its one of those rare films that would work for pretty much anyone. Unless youre heartless. Then maybe not.
You Tube
3.5
Made with the necessary narrative and directorial guile to get the Oscars in its sights, and with dialogue in English and Mandarin Chinese, The Farewe ..
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
4.0
The Farewell provokes a lot of questions regarding cultural tradition, taboo and differences between its immigrant and non immigrant characters, to wh ..
Lw Lies
3.0
Wang also doesnt overuse music, and some of the films more powerful scenes have no score.
Abc
5.0
Lulu Wangs semi autobiographical indie charmer The Farewell cuts deep and close to home.
Flicks
3.0
I didnt expect such visual delights from cinematographer Anna Franquesa Solano, who peppers the film with truly lovely natural light.
The Stranger
3.0
The film could have had wit, attitude, poignancy, style or any single one of the four. Instead it slithers along, shallow and soapy.
Ft
5.0
Its wonderful stuff from start to finish, and one of the best films Ive seen so far this year.
Independent Ie
5.0
Everyone thinks its better if you dont go you cant hide your emotions, Billis mother Jian (Diana Lin) informs her.
Stuff
4.4
With a sparkling ensemble cast, The Farewell explores questions of individual identity and cultural divides and arrives at the conclusion that we migh ..
Ar Kansas Online
3.0
Its a lovingly mounted movie, its funny pictures wry but never mocking.
Vanity Fair
3.0
What makes The Farewell so unbelievably moving is that, through that very specificity, it touches on fundamentally universal themes.
Refinery 29
4.0
Repression for the greater good isnt the studios usual happy ending.
The Arts Desk
5.0
This film isnt about cancer, its about the sacrifices we make for family and how we approach mortality.
The Sun
3.0
The lovely paradox of The Farewell is that everyone in it tries to hide their feelings as long as they can, yet their story goes straight to your hear ..
Wsj
4.0
The cinematic equivalent of comfort food, predictable but filling old favorites guaranteed to hit your laughing and crying taste buds.
The Filmy Ap
4.5
As The Farewell draws to a bittersweet conclusion, it risks tipping over into maudlin territory.
Film
4.2
The Farewell celebrates diversity whilst recognising the emotional similarities that connect us.
The Film Pie
5.0
From the moment Awkwafina as Billi appears onscreen, thats never a concern.
Chicago Sun Times
4.9
Plausibility isnt one of the films strong points, but it doesnt have to be.
Nyc Movie Guru
4.0
The Farewellis a movie full of unique insights on family and what it means in different parts of the world.
Punch Drunk Critics
3.8
Its hard to disconnect preconceptions of another point thats already being rejected.
Movie Crypt
3.0
Aside from some rhythmic missteps, the movie doesnt quite get around to developing the character of the hesitant groom, and it doesnt show much intere ..
Straight
3.0
On the plus side, Ms. Wang puts her Panavision lens to impeccable use. You can count the number of closeups on one hand.
Sandiego Reader
4.5
Within all of this, with a solid supporting cast doing whats needed, Awkwafina delivers an excellent against type performance.
We Live Entertainment
3.0
The Farewell is an incredibly moving film that manages to authentically capture the delicate balance between sadness and humor during depressing times ..
We Live Entertainment
4.5
Wangs film is a joyous celebration of family that is handled in such a unique way that it is even more effective than the majority of other films that ..
We Live Entertainment
5.0
Wang doesnt tell her story as much as she forces us to experience it.
Hollywood Chicago
3.8
Unfolds an intriguing charade that will make you wonder whether white lies are perfectly acceptable.
Shockya
4.0
There are big, tear jerking scenes, with Awkwafina and older actress Zhao nailing the chemistry as to what brings them together, and why saying goodby ..
Straits Times
3.0
Yet in her second feature film, Wang doesnt pit the Chinese way against the American lifestyle.
The Ringer
5.0
Awkwafina is at another crazy Asian wedding but this one comes from real life truths and lies .
Dead Line
-
Awkwafina subdues the hammy, motormouthed, room filling affect thats made for such memorable characters in Crazy Rich Asians and Oceans 8.
Film Comment
4.2
Besides being well executed and telling an intelligent story, theres the Oscar worthy heartfelt performance by Awkwafina.
Dennis Schwartz Reviews
5.0
Those familiar with the story from podcast This American Life might be slightly disappointed to lose their favourite anecdote, but dont fret now youve ..
One Room With A View
4.5
Nor does it feel like an expensive home video thats been made for theaters.
Solzy At The Movies
4.5
But that doesnt mean The Farewell is some depressing, cheap and manipulative melodrama.
Bitly
5.0
It is a richly authentic, irresistibly charming and beautifully directed film.
Bitly
-
Hail Satan Penny Lanes documentary about The Satanic Temple is as charming and strange as the self proclaimed Satanists showcased in it.
Polygon
3.5
Photo : A24 Advertisement A crushingly bittersweet mood dominates the film, and Wang demonstrates a steady hand in her balancing of morbid material an ..
Film Avclub
4.4
Farewell tugs at the heartstrings in many funny, bittersweet, touching ways.
Post Gazette
4.0
The Farewell is Awkwafinas first leading role and she is truly a revelation, proving she is more than just the comedy sidekick.
Metro
-
But theres something refreshingly egalitarian to that crass commodification.
The Daily Beast
4.5
Wang goes for a very understated and naturalistic tone throughout most the film, but not a scene is squandered.
Or Lando Weekly
4.5
The Farewell finds the laughs between the tears, with the tone never forced. Its a film that has stayed with me long after I left the theater.
Bowling Green Daily News
4.0
Its gratifying to stumble into a movie operating at the scale of people.
Alternate Ending
5.0
Its a film that pulls off a quiet miracle: it breaks your heart, and leaves you happy.
Seattle Times
4.0
Thanks to the potential energy that Awkwafina always embodies, we can see theres a fierce Nai Nai inside Billi, too.
Seven Day Svt
4.0
There are silences in Lulu Wangs The Farewell that linger much longer than they should and much longer than it is comfortable.
Black Girl Nerds
3.5
But The Farewell works best when it lets its observations slide by quietly.
National Post
3.0
Immigrants, for whom such experiences often overlap in intimate ways, can tell some of the most compelling stories about the human condition and the d ..
New Republic
-
Writer/director Lulu Wangs lovely, heartfelt film spotlights family with all its quirks and perks.
Original Cin
4.5
Wangs The Farewell is an incredible outlook on family tradition that is thought provoking, relative, and personal. All while providing a stupendous pe ..
Rendy Reviews
4.4
From the start, its a beautifully constructed relationship, affectionate and clearly quite meaningful to them both.
Third Coast Review
4.0
To see shed tears, to watch her struggle with internal conflicts and to hear her deliver everything in Mandarin, she deserves much credit for daring t ..
The New Paper
5.0
Schuzhen Zhao plays Nai Nai with lightness and energy; shes a warm and loving presence that isnt afraid of fun and the work it takes to have it.
Cultured Vultures
5.0
The Farewell is a stoic and honest representation of a flawed and lovely family coming to terms with the inevitable.
Winnipeg Free Press
4.2
This film is sharply written and beautifully performed. It is a perfect example of the adage that the more specific a story is, the more universal it ..
Movie Mom
4.4
A poignant look at cultural identity and its place in modern society.
Cinema Sight
-
The edits are sharp, the scenes dont drone on, the story moves along despite the quiet subject matter.
Fw Weekly
4.4
It has an eye for absurdity and for the telling detail, and it marks Lulu Wang as a director with the rare but essential ability to make you care abou ..
Datebook Sfchronicle
3.8
The act of not informing someone about their own health particularly when a fatal diagnosis is involved is a hot button issue, and the strength of The ..
Film Frenzy
3.8
Skillfully blending humor and sorrow, shes made an enjoyable and empathetic film about family, mortality and identity.
Sf Examiner
3.8
Only Grandma Nai Nai (a sublime Shuzhen Zhou) doesnt know shes dying.
Hollywood Into To
3.8
As a result, shes able to craft a film that straddles the balancing act between docudrama and indie comedy, portraying a unique cultural perspective w ..
Spectrum Culture
-
The Farewell stands as proof shes capable of much, much more. Awkwafina shoulders this dramatic leading role with the grace, and a showstopper monolog ..
Mash Able
3.0
Writer/director Lulu Wang deserves a great deal of credit for the sensitive, touching, and frequently funny dramatization of an event thats clearly qu ..
Culture
3.0
It feels like the kind of movie that would premiere at Sundance to great acclaim, the kind of movie that will pleasantly surprise audiences with a non ..
Mid West Film Journal
3.8
The Farewell evokes some of the same emotions as well, making it a generational crowd pleaser perfect for adult children and their parents to enjoy to ..
Tulsa World
5.0
The Farewell is a rare and rewarding gem, a movie that trades in pauses and silences and understands that its the space in between that so often defin ..
Am Ny
-
Awkwafina is about as far from her role in Crazy Rich Asians as she can be here, and were with her all the way.
Film Ireland
-
Its a funny but painful moment, one thats laden with sorrow, typical of The Farewell.
Thril List
0.0
There are no grand declarations or tear stained confrontations, as its not Downton, mercifully. And if you think grandma knows the truth and is foolin ..
Spectator
-
For a film with such a big narrative hook, it doesnt waste much time with exposition or explanation.
Battleship Pretension
3.8
The Farewell unfurls a bittersweet emotional journey buoyed by the complicated matter of identity that confronts many immigrants and first gens when r ..
Cambridge Day
-
There were choices that could have made The Farewell into just another feel good comedy or overwrought drama, but Wang is such a gifted writer and fil ..
Entertainment Voice
3.8
That means there arent many crazy rich highs, but it means The Farewell doesnt get maudlin, either.
Heral
4.0
Injecting what is a tragic setup with comic elements requires a precarious balancing act from the filmmaker and star alike, but Wang and Awkwafina tra ..
Firstpost
3.8
The Farewell tells the often charming, frequently heartbreaking tale of a family struggling with their aging matriarchs terminal cancer diagnosis.
Film Festival Today
3.0
The Farewell is a heartfelt ode to the complexities of family relationships.
Battle Royale With Cheese
4.0
Sweet, comforting, heartfelt, and funny, The Farewell is a fantastic piece of work that is an ample showcase for director Wangs filmmaking chops and A ..
Impulse Gamer
4.5
Wang that how one feels about families telling the truth whether they must be forthright with one another at all times depends on the culture they hav ..
Film Forward
3.8
This is the kind of smart well told film that establishes a career.
The Film Experience
3.5
The film is tenderly directed with an observant eye, which is very fitting for Wangs subdued storytelling style (ditto for the editing, natural lighti ..
Screen Zealots
4.4
Not quite the tearjerker you might be expecting, its still deeply emotional, yet handled so well it never seems even a little bit manipulative.
Hollywood News
3.0
The Farewell began as a entry in This American Life, and it might have fit pretty well there, in a tight space with words as the prevailing medium. It ..
Kdhx
0.0
The movie doesnt have a twisty plot; and yet at nearly every turn, with nearly every choice Wang makes, The Farewell defies expectations.
The Week
4.0
The action might take place largely in a distant country, but theres nothing foreign about the emotions.
Aarp
0.0
Director Lulu Wang based The Farewell on her own history and at the very end, she gives us an unexpected and upbeat coda. And like everything else in ..
Saportare Port
4.5
And thats where most of the comedy comes fromdistinctive character moments.
Splice Today
3.0
The second film as director of Lulu Wang doesnt move me nor does it seem funny, but I cant deny that it contains a certain intimacy with the intercult ..
5.0
Wang masterfully navigates this story and all the complicated nuances that go along with it.
FlickDirect
5.0
If it isnt organic or realistic, Wang rightfully doesnt pay it any mind.
The Gate
4.4
Its endearing and sad, but Wangs approach has a rather optimistic tone that serves perfectly with a fantastic cast. .
4.5
Lulu Wangs sense of style and pacing knits all these moments together, and theres a real tenderness with how it arranges itself on screen.
Entertainment Ie
2.5
The movie is a natural tearjerker, given the intense tenderness of the subject.
Pgh City Paper
3.0
This is a sweet, emotional journey of love and respect for family and Awkwafinas breakout leading role showing the comedian/rappers dramatic versatili ..
Movies and Shakers
3.0
For her second feature, up and coming writer director Lulu Wang has drawn on her own experiences to craft a touching story of a Chinese family. The Fa ..
Leonard Mal
4.4
Wangs sense of humor is low key, usually, as she dives into the gaudiness of the wedding banquet Nai Nai has prepared, if only so neighbors dont think ..
Movie Cricket
3.2
I recommend it, ... it unfolded for me as a progression of obvious chords, played repetitively and softly. ... Theres a difference between artful subt ..
Looking Closer
4.2
The Farewell drips with authenticity as it examines and gives equal weight and respect to the disparate traditions and values of its two colliding cul ..
Stardem
5.0
Her performance echoes with an intense understanding of the relationships shes portraying. (
Caution Spoilers
3.0
It does so with a warm hearted and uplifting spirit that is quite affecting.
Dwight Brown Ink
4.0
Funny, surprising, and poignant in all the right places, The Farewell is the kind of film you will be glad to say hello to.
Herald Scotland
3.0
But this movie isnt so much about how it will play outeven as they hurtle toward a nerve racking sham of a wedding.
The Nation
4.5
It is truly hard to say goodbye, especially when you know the end is not some far off point along the horizon, but close enough to cross in a step or ..
City Beat
4.0
How The Farewell balances questions about cultural heritage and the morality of honesty is immersive and lovely.
Chesapeake Family
3.5
Its about watching, about waiting. Its when its at its most natural that The Farewell connects the inside and the outside with an honesty thats hard t ..
Film Monthly
0.0
The Farewell reveals a diverse culture of grief alternatives unknown in the West of carrying grief together.
Bust
5.0
It is undoubtedly a bittersweet film, full of delightful highs and crushing lows to create a wonderfully rounded piece of cinema thats amongst the yea ..
The Jam Report
5.0
Not fully fluent in Chinese, Awkwafina actualizes the mistranslations of Billis emotions and background, and dramatizes the plight of a first generati ..
812 Film Reviews
3.5
Wangs is a deeply felt and emotionally sincere film that benefits from its serio comic nature, if not one that left me entirely moved. (
Silver Screen Riot
-
Chinese people say cancer doesnt kill, one of Billis relatives tells her.
The Muse Jezebel
4.5
To watch internal war through their expressions is what makes The Farewell such an unforgettable cinematic treat of resonant catharsis.
Jaredmobarak
3.0
But The Farewell leans just as hard, if not harder, into its comedy elements.
4.0
Combined with Wangs natural screenplay, The Farewell offers a relatable tale of dysfunctional drama with a refreshingly contemporary Asian angle.
Flick Feast
5.0
Lulu Wangs semi autobiographical film will make you laugh and cry. Awkwafinas natural intensity is a dynamic match for Shuzhen Zhaos energetic perform ..
Victoria Advocate
3.5
Accessible, authentic, and at times side splittingly funny, The Farewell explores complicated family dynamics and cross cultural conundrums with a lig ..
Daily Telegraph
0.0
Aoi Mizuhara gives a mostly wordless performance as the hapless bride to be who doesnt speak either of the films two languages and seems to have only ..
Memphis Flyer
3.0
But Billi cant imagine concealing the truth of Nai Nais life from her, or smiling through such a painful time.
Hot Press
3.0
Wang moves with discretion between simplicity and eccentricity, addressing solemn themes without any artificiality.
Fotogramas
-
What results is a masterfully executed and earnestly felt look at a complicated and painful situation for this family.
Vanyaland
0.0
If this strikes you as an appealing premise for a comedy drama about family and culture clash, the odds are you will enjoy it.
Daily Public
4.8
The Farewell dives straight into the deep end with authentic representation, handily revealing the infinite diversity within Chinese identity alone.
Mediaversity Reviews
3.8
This goodbye is complicated. Thats what makes it work so well...Lulu Wang has made a film so deeply personal we have no choice but to recognize her st ..
idobi.com
5.0
But The Farewell isnt a culture shock movie; fundamentally, its a film about family.
Pitts Burgh Magazine
-
The Farewell is an important exploration of the cultural limbo many Chinese born Americans find themselves in, but its humor and heart will reach all.
CNET
4.0
And while The Farewell isnt only about death, feelings of grief and mourning and loss pervade every frame.
Book & Film Globe
0.0
The Farewell finds beauty in lifes small moments, as messy as they may be.
That Shelf
4.0
The Farewell is a rewarding film for the ages. It has its tears, undoubtedly; but it also has many laughs and uplifting moments to carry you through y ..
Denton Record-Chronicle
3.0
Wangs script also doesnt have enough meat on the bone to delve into the second generational conflict that weighs heavily on Billis mind.
The Digital Fix
5.0
Its not always easy to create a story that is both acutely and culturally specific while also being thematically universal. Often, adherence to one ov ..
Awards Watch
4.2
A breakout role for a star on the rise, The Farewell goes well beyond its simple narrative and presents us with something profound and entertaining at ..
High Def Digest
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The Farewell is an extraordinarily gentle drama that is thought provoking in the nicest, most pleasant way.
Lagniappe Mobile
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Almost every shot, most of them wide, encompasses the entire family and its myriad facial expressions. Theres an emotional choreography to this film.
Nashville Scene
4.5
The Farewell is a movie of dichotomies Chinese culture and American culture, parents and children, mourning and celebrating, youth and old age that ap ..
Smash Cut Reviews
4.0
Throw cancer into the equation, and theres really no way Wang should have been able to pull this off.
Reel Reviews
4.5
Lulu Wangs The Farewell is a groundbreaking work thats authentic and deeply affecting.
Ready Steady Cut
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As for his bride, Aiko doesnt speak Mandarin, so theres no danger that she will reveal the truth to Nai Nai.
Haaretz
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Things arent going well, as shes just been rejected for a Guggenheim Fellowship.
About Boulder
4.5
...isnt that the best you can ask of a film, for it to be enjoyable and thought provoking The Farewell checks both boxes.
Movie Show Plus
4.4
The Farewell will fill you with the same feeling as Yasujir Ozus Japanese masterpiece Tokyo Story. Youll want to immediately pick up the phone, call y ..
Wtop
4.5
Writer/director Lulu Wang pulls off a remarkable feat with The Farewell.
4.5
One of the most authentic, beautiful movies of the year complete with outstanding performances and a perfectly honed script.
Mad About Movies Podcast
3.0
So many well composed shots. Its a very indie film...but this is a real, feeling film.
Double Toasted
5.0
A universal and heart warming story about the ties that bind a family. I laughed and cried, and it made me call my grandmother right after the movie e ..
4.0
Its a very rewarding film assembled with a disarming touch of brilliance.
Always Good Movies
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Lulu Wangs film sympathetic film goes far beyond showing the cultural clash between the family.
Butaca Ancha
3.0
No matter where you come from, youll likely find some point of connection with The Farewell. The films themes of love and loss resonate far beyond its ..
CultureMap
4.0
Though she doesnt agree with whats happening, Billi is sworn to secrecy.
Dogandwolf
3.0
Wang is able to make her own personal culture clash, complex as it is, relatable to American moviegoers especially to those who still believe in the n ..
Spokane7
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But Haiyans brother owns the last word: Ma, let the man smoke, hes already dead!
Ncr Online
5.0
With that humorous dread and paralyzing poise, this distinct film carries poignant spirit.
Every Movie Hasalesson
4.0
Sometimes it is kosher to tell a lie. Thats the premise of writer director Lulu Wangs affectionate story of her own familys ends and means.
3.0
Powerfully subdued and thoughtful, The Farewell is a terrific independent film that will remain among the years best .
3.0
The only one whos completely truthful is the candid and compassionate Nai Nai.
3.5
Its a joyously odd affair that will remind some of The Wedding Banquet, and nicely serves to fill in the blanks among tender moments, a few playful on ..
Jmuvies Blog Spot
3.5
The shots they get from the very small dung beetle to the giant savannas full of elephants are very impressive.
rachelsreviews.net
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Erasure through consumerism isnt a fate reserved strictly for Americans.
Boulder Weekly
4.5
Whats especially remarkable about Wangs work here is the evenness of flow from somber, intimate moments to crowded, raucous scenes.
Asheville Movies
4.2
Of course, no one seems to have asked the visibly embarrassed Hao Hao and Aiko whether they wanted to wed; the relationship, such as it is, is only th ..
4.5
What Wang constructs is a film that packs an emotional punch one minute and has you laughing the next.
0.0
...a funny, moving story about the secrets families keep to protect each other.
The Pop Break
3.0
The Farewell is not entirely dramatic and mournful, theres plenty of humor.
Awards Daily
4.5
An utterly engaging experience, Wangs film succeeds as both a form of entertainment and an intimate reminder of the importance of family, so best rust ..
Brisbanista
4.0
Lulu Wangs The Farewell is bittersweet in the truest sense of the word, balancing on the knife edge of grief and joy.
Harper's Bazaar
3.0
She imbues Nai Nai with an elegant assurance and a quiet dignity thats devoid of clich.
Newport This Week
3.8
But still, theres so much loveliness throughout that it barely matters.
5.0
Her natural presence on screen and galvanizing smile and embracing wit is as genuine a performance as you will see this year.
Should I See It
4.0
Like its characters, the movie stays a fair distance from the drama and says it all in silence.
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Run, dont walk to see this heartwarming and heartbreaking film starring the multi talented Awkwafina.
Pop Culture Leftovers
4.0
Lulu Wang successfully marries comedic talent with sensitive writing to universalise her experience.
Culture Whisper
4.0
Some might dismiss Lulu Wangs (Posthumous) film as an attempt to cash in on the monster success of Crazy Rich Asians. Nothing could be further from th ..
Orcasound
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Giving up ones own wellbeing for the good of another isnt just limited to this example in the film.
Sojo
5.0
It cant go without mentioning that Awkwafina gives an amazing performance.
MovieJawn
5.0
So well acted, you felt it. I thought it was a really, really solid movie, and I was very surprised by it.
Podomatic
4.5
This is where The Farewell, as it plumbs the daily life of an ordinary Chinese family as seen through the eyes of a woman whose Mandarin isnt great an ..
Houston Chronicle
3.0
The Farewell reminds us that callous statements of the go back to wherever you came from nature are not only racist but demonstrate a pernicious lack ..
Planet S Magazine
3.5
The Farewell hits universal themes of kinship and mortality with unerring accuracy and delicate grace.
5.0
This East West discussion has been done before in other films but it doesnt feel clichd nor recycled here.
FlixChatter Film Blog
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Great characterizations with brilliant writing and an astonishingly accomplished ensemble cast.
The Michael Medved Show
4.3
Shes told repeatedly that having grown up in America, she just doesnt understand.
Rochester City Newspaper
4.5
Perhaps a little heavy for children, The Farewell is best suited for families with teens. And please take them. Its been a long time since a film made ..
Lola Lambchops
4.2
The Farewell is a rare film that can entertain, enlighten and reaffirm our fragile humanity.
Galveston Daily News
4.5
Lulu Wang is a new force in filmmaking and I cant wait to see what she does next. She knows how to elicit laughter and tears through revealing human t ..
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You dont feel fully American but dont belong where your parents grew up, either.
Another Gaze
5.0
Awkwafinas leading performance is remarkable; With little dialogue, she evokes Billis turmoil primarily through her eyes and body language.
Ff2 Media
4.8
presents us with the struggle to find a more human and fulfilling story in 2019.
In Session Film
3.0
Her star turn here isnt a performance youve seen before, even for her; this isnt the heroines wacky, quip spitting friend in Crazy Rich Asians.
Phoenix Magazine
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FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK, TWITTER WANT TO SUPPORT ORIGINAL CONTENT CREATED BY WOMEN THEN CONSIDER SUPPORTING CITIZEN DAME ON PATREON!
Citizen Damepod
4.5
Oftentimes the tragic and the hilarious are symbiotic with her patient approach, moving between the films dense emotional topography with a natural in ..
Film Mixtape
4.4
Comedy, they say, is tragedy plus time, but in The Farewell, tragedy and comedy occupy the same space at the same time, and get along just fine.
5.0
Wangs film is a stunning example of storytelling, the emotive premise laying the foundations for a film flawlessly executed and gloriously rendered.
Outtake Mag
5.0
Writer director Lula Wangs autobiographical drama The Farewell delves into complex realities like family dynamics, cultural differences and terminal i ..
The Oklahoman
4.0
Until the closing shot, this is a celebration of Asian actors, traditions, and relationships, never tainted with the need to please multiplex audience ..
Frame Rated
4.5
As authentic and involving as a family drama could hope to be, and one of the most effective takes on the tension between culture and identity seen in ..
easternKicks.com
3.5
From there Wang weaves a powerful tale about trans cultural humanism as Billi finds herself torn between Western morality and Eastern filial piety.
Nate Hood Reviews
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Shao is a heartening grandma with a lot of salt to her... Shes a figure anyone would love and grieve for, but its Awkwafina as a young woman feeling l ..
Pacific Sun
4.4
In its unflappably honest depiction of coming to terms with death, this powerful and often delightful film becomes the most life affirming seen Ive se ..
Punch Drunk Movies
3.0
If youre a fan of any songs from 1950s onwards, youre going to want to watch this. (
Charlotte Sometimes Goes t ..
3.8
The Farewell may be a difficult sit for anyone who has lost a loved one, but its a worthwhile one as it keenly captures the glorious awfulness and fab ..
Edge Media Network
0.0
Touching, vulnerable and heartbreaking, Awkwafina enters the world of drama with great confidence and comes away with a performance that should be rem ..
Sioux City Journal
4.5
And Further Proving The Need For More Diverse Stories But The Farewell wouldnt work without strong direction and a strong story both given to us by Lu ..
4.5
Authentically heart warming. The Farewell is one of the most original films of the summer. Awkwafina proves she has the acting chops to take on comple ..
4.4
In just 100 minutes of screen time, Wang has brought a contentious, ethical issue to a human level and wrapped it with heart.
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The film doesnt compromise any of its idiosyncratic personality, bolstered by its script, also penned by Wang, which accentuates both the drama and co ..
4.0
Its precise and uncompromising in its storytelling, and Wang films modern China beautifully.
Zavvi
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Farewell