In every new cinema year, countless cinema highlights await us, which receive the attention they deserve from audiences, film critics and various award ceremonies. However, sometimes there are films that, despite their genius, fly a little under the radar and only receive recognition in certain circles. The Farewell, now available on Netflix subscription, is one such case. Though Lulu Wang’s touching drama has garnered plentiful praise, there are still far too many movie lovers out there who haven’t heard of it. So it’s high time to change this – and thanks to Netflix there is now a very good and convenient way to do it.
In the official DashFUN review, “The Farewell” received a terrific 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars. The indie highlight just barely missed the status of a masterpiece. In his conclusion, our author Björn Becher writes: “Lulu Wangs ‘The Farewell‘ is one of the most moving, beautiful and best looking movies of the year!”
So we don’t skimp on superlatives – and that’s quite appropriate. “The Farewell” is one of those films that strikes a near-perfect balance between heart and humor, making it one of the most moving cinematic experiences of recent years. “But the touching drama is particularly impressive because Wang not only relies on her outstanding leading actress Awkwafina’s power of words, but also finds impressive pictures.”says the criticism.
In collaboration with her camerawoman Anna Franquesa Solano, Lulu Wang repeatedly finds sheer unique images “that not only convey the feeling of being cramped, but also that the people arranged speak through their position in the picture. Whoever is in the center, who is on the edge, has such an underlining statement. But the most important thing is that it never seems forced, never staged, but always comes naturally.”
Main actress Awkwafina, who is now much more than “just” the shooting star of a few years ago and most recently in blockbusters such as the MCU hit “Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings” or “Jumanji: The Next Level’ was brilliant here across the board. She manages brilliantly not only to express her comedic talent, she also masters the dramatic, emotional moments. As a result, Awkwafina acquires a rousing inner turmoil that contributes significantly to the fact that “The Farewell” has become such a touching and beautiful film.
The Chinese-American Billi Wang (Awkwafina), who lives unsuccessfully as a writer in New York, learns from her parents that her beloved grandmother Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen), who still lives in China, has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. You only have a few months to live. Billi is devastated. Without further ado, however, she decides to make the best of the devastating situation, to prepare her grandmother’s last few days and to protect her from the painful truth.
So Nai Nai is told that her findings are actually quite good for her age. The marriage of a Japanese cousin is quickly used to bring together the family scattered all over the world for Nai Nai. But when relatives meet, Billi’s plan is not only met with approval. Soon there are clear differences between Western and Eastern values when it comes to death…
