The Farewell

About

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.

A heartfelt celebration of both the way we perform family and the way we live it, The Farewell masterfully interweaves a gently humorous depiction of the good lie in action with a thoughtful exploration of how our cultural heritage does and does not travel with us when we leave our homes. Writer/director Lulu Wang imbues The Farewell with warmth and knowing wit, while the uniformly excellent ensemble cast (anchored by a breakout performance by Awkwafina) invites us to share this extended clan’s joy and sorrow—and to feel, for the length of this remarkable film, like a part of their family.

YEAR 2019

CATEGORY U.S. Dramatic Competition

COUNTRY U.S.A./China

RUN TIME 98 min

LANGUAGE English and Mandarin

SUBTITLES Yes with English subtitles

COMPANY Big Beach

WEBSITE http://www.bigbeach.com

EMAIL josh@bigbeach.com

PHONE (212) 473-5800

Credits

Director
Screenwriter
Producers
Executive Producer
Co Producers
Director Of Photography
Production Designer
Editors
Costume Designer
Music By
Music Supervisors
Actor

Artist Bio

Lulu Wang

Lulu Wang is a classical-pianist-turned-filmmaker. Her first feature, Posthumous, starring Jack Huston and Brit Marling, was released by The Orchard. Born in Beijing, raised in Miami, and educated in Boston, Lulu is a recipient of the 2014 Chaz and Roger Ebert Directing Fellowship, awarded at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. She's also a 2014 Film Independent Project Involve Directing fellow and a 2017 fellow with Sundance Institute’s FilmTwo Initiative, a program supporting second-time feature filmmakers.