So. If your family member was dying....would you tell them?
This is the question that Awkwafina's character, Billi, asks of herself and her family in the 2019 movie, The Farewell. The family learns that their beloved grandmother, Nai Nai (played by Shuzhen Zhao) is dying of stage four lung cancer. They explained in the movie that it was of Chinese tradition to not let Nai Nai know she was dying, to let her live out her life happily. To see her and celebrate her life one last time, they have a family wedding in China. As the family is together they wrestle with the idea of whether it is better to tell Nai Nai of her potential fate or to (as Billi's uncle Haibin explains) carry the burden for her.
Written and directed by Lulu Wang, this movie brought a sense of home to the screen. While that may not have been my family in the film, I felt the toll that was weighing on this family's secret. It made me look at my own life and wonder, 'if my Nana was passing away, would we tell her?' The dialogue felt real and very reminiscent of actual family conversations. At one point in-particular, during a family dinner, they had a stern discussion on what it meant to leave China and if it meant you would ever return. Conversations about culture of that magnitude may be different for every family but not uncommon for families to have.
Awkwafina's performance was brilliant. It was exciting to see her in a more serious role, her acting range is sure to take her far. She felt relatable, she was easy to see yourself in. And Shuzhen Zhao, endearing, wonderful, and simply a joy to watch. Conversations between Nai Nai and Billi reminded me of my own Nana and I.
I highly recommend seeing The Farewell. This film tugs at your heartstrings while giving you a since of hope.
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