'The Farewell' A Review

The Farewell is a drama about aspiring NYC artist Billi(Awkwafina) who has a close relationship with her grandmother Nai Nai(Zhao Shuzhen) in China who is diagnosed with terminal cancer, although the family decides to keep this knowledge from her. The family invents a wedding for one of Billi's cousins in order to get the family together for a final visit.

Awkwafina give a down-to-earth and stirring performance as the emotional center of this alternatively moving, funny, and inspiring piece of cinema. She effortlessly moves through the film, emotive, empathetic, and authentic. As great as Awkwafina is Shuzhen is the real star, in easily one of the best performances of the year, she soars as the loving, upbeat, playful grandmother-we-all-wish-we-had. She has an absolutely magnetic wry soulful exuberance that electrifies the screen. The supporting cast are also excellently drawn and build this wonderfully connected and relatable family that for, essentially, a domestic drama totally startles in its vibrance and potency.

A subtle but effective score and cinematography that's not flash but has a creeping simple beauty, even a sense of humor, the film delivers in all aspects. The Farewell is such a surprising almost operatic triumph further description would only detract from it's infectious freshness.

Don't Miss It.