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The Farewell

2019

Lulu Wang

Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Jim Liu, Gil Perez-Abraham ...

6.7

5,599

Drama. Comedy After learning their beloved matriarch has terminal lung cancer, a family opts not to tell her about the diagnosis, instead scheduling an impromptu wedding-reunion back in China. Headstrong and emotional writer Billi rebels against her parents’ directive to stay in New York and joins the family as they awkwardly attempt to rekindle old bonds, throw together a wedding that only grandma is actually looking forward to, and surreptitiously say their goodbyes. [+]

	Author	Review
United States	David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter	"[Awkwafina] is the center of an impeccably cast ensemble all drawn with deep personal investment (...) of complex Chinese family dynamics, making writer-director Lulu Wang's bittersweet, poignant comedy-drama a gentle delight."	POS
United States	Peter Debruge Variety	"A pretty funny way to present a true story (...) What makes 'The Farewell' so effective is that in delving into such a specific case, the film invites audiences to reflect on the passing of relatives close to them.	POS
United States	Carlos Aguilar The Wrap	"A tearjerker that carefully doses pathos to prevent sappiness, 'The Farewell' benefits from Zhao Shuzhen’s invigorating presence"	POS
United States	Eric Kohn IndieWire	"The movie lingers on indelible images that deepen this portrait of complex family dynamics (...) [It] lands on a tricky happy medium between the eccentric and somber aspects of its curious scenario. "	POS
United States	Peter Travers Rolling Stone	"A funny, touching and vital film about what makes a family in any culture. It’s simply stunning (...) Rating: ★★★★½ (out of 5)"	POS
United Kingdom	Anthony Kaufman Screendaily	"A heartfelt and well-meaning film, ripe for our diverse times"	POS
United Kingdom	Wendy Ide The Guardian	"Awkwafina impresses in Lulu Wang’s moving and witty culture clash tale (...) A satisfying, bittersweet wedding banquet of a movie (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United Kingdom	Tim Robey Telegraph	"[It] is modestly affecting and deserves an audience (...) It keeps working on a single layer when there were definitely more to be discovered (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"	NEU
United Kingdom	Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard	"Hilarious, affecting and destined for awards success (...) As a director, Wang is quietly original (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United Kingdom	Clarisse Loughrey The Independent	"Awkwafina is startling in a comedy of bracing honesty (...) One of those rare and precious comedies that is as hilarious as it is tragic (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
Ireland	Tara Brady Irish Times	"A lovely, warm family picture featuring a star-making turn from Awkwafina (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
Ireland	Paddy Kehoe RTÉ	"Made with the necessary narrative and directorial guile to get the Oscars in its sights (...) An appealing and accessible family drama, and definitely well worth seeing (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 5)"	POS
Ireland	Paul Whitington Irish Independent	"One of the best films of the year so far (...) It’s wonderful stuff from start to finish (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
Ireland	Brian Lloyd entertainment.ie	"As sweet and affectionate a story as you can get, 'The Farewell' is a heartwarming, funny tale (…) Rating: ★★★★½ (out of 5)"	POS
Ireland	James Bartlett Film Ireland	"The delicate direction and the astoundingly good supporting cast – all of whom have their moment – make you complicit in the secret"	POS
Canada	Norman Wilner Now Toronto	"A funny, finely observed generational study (...) Awkwafina is a revelation (...) A thoughtful, moving meditation on the burden of family expectations"	POS
Canada	Matt Bobkin Exclaim!	"A complex, culturally specific tale with slow-burning style that skilfully weaves in family drama, cultural commentary and plenty of humour to highlight the universality of these experiences."	POS
Canada	Barry Hertz The Globe and Mail	"Excellently understated (...) 'The Farewell' tells a big drama that carefully gets whittled to a hundred tiny little dramas, each affecting in their own way (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"	POS
Canada	Andrew Parker The Gate	"[It] has both an easily identifiable emotional core and a firmly established cultural identity, with the latter working brilliantly to bring the former to the surface (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS

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