“Based on an actual lie” are the first words you see when The Farewell begins. The lie in question is rather large. Chinese grandmother Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhao) has been for a scan as she has been coughing a bit to much. Her sister goes to get the news and tells Nai Nai that there are benign shadows that will sort themselves out soon. The truth however, is that Nai Nai is terminally ill. Nai Nai’s family all learn the secret and decide to set up a fake wedding. All of them are supportive of the lie apart from her granddaughter Billi (Awkwafina). As somebody who was raised in America, the idea of lying to her beloved Grandmother seems terrible. Yet, she still goes to the family fake wedding, which is an oppotunity for everybody to really get together and say their goodbyes to Nai Nai.

This moral dilemma is the crux of the film and it certainly is an interesting premise. Each character while trying to stand strong shows moments where they crack as they attempt to tip-toe around this issue by not showing Nai Nai their sadness. Throughout we see the theme of Eastern ideas vs Western ideas.

The brilliant thing carrying this film is its heart. It has a real look emotional authenticity which will make you laugh and cry. When I heard Nai Nai talk to her granddaughter, that sounded like how my grandmother would talk to me. Every single interaction had that real human side to it. When it comes to the sham wedding, you forget the pain they’re all feeling as you’re swept away with their enjoyment. The whole piece is very smart. You wonder how much Nai Nai knows and whether she is acting for everybody else’s benefit. You question the morality behind every decision. There are moments where the story could go in a certain direction for dramatic effect, yet the director keeps it grounded and wisely so.

My one gripe with The Farewell was that it did drag a bit in the middle. Nobody was making any headway for a long time, so some scenes felt like they were repeating themselves. Yet these scenes certainly had enough punch to carry through a good film.

Summary

The Farewell gives an authentic and beautifully understated look at grief. With very human characters and realistic drama, this film will both make you laugh and cry. [Grade: B+]