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The Farewell

  • 20192019
  • PGPG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
62K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,070
50
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tzi Ma, Shuzhen Zhao, Han Chen, Aoi Mizuhara, Hong Lu, Diana Lin, Awkwafina, and Yongbo Jiang in The Farewell (2019)
A Chinese family discover their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies. From writer/director Lulu Wang and starring Awkwafina.
Play trailer2:17
12 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

A Chinese family discovers their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies.A Chinese family discovers their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies.A Chinese family discovers their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
62K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,070
50
  • Director
    • Lulu Wang
  • Writer
    • Lulu Wang
  • Stars
    • Shuzhen Zhao
    • Awkwafina
    • X Mayo
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lulu Wang
  • Writer
    • Lulu Wang
  • Stars
    • Shuzhen Zhao
    • Awkwafina
    • X Mayo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 337User reviews
    • 248Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 35 wins & 191 nominations total

    Videos12

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:17
    Official Trailer
    The Farewell
    Trailer 2:25
    The Farewell
    The Cast of 'Tigertail' Name Their Favorite Films in Asian Cinema
    Clip 2:56
    The Cast of 'Tigertail' Name Their Favorite Films in Asian Cinema
    Indie Spirit Stars Suggest Indie Gems You Must Watch Right Now
    Clip 2:49
    Indie Spirit Stars Suggest Indie Gems You Must Watch Right Now
    2020 Golden Globes Snub Women Filmmakers
    Clip 4:28
    2020 Golden Globes Snub Women Filmmakers
    Weekend Box Office: July 26 to 28
    Clip 1:01
    Weekend Box Office: July 26 to 28
    Weekend Box Office: July 12 to 14
    Clip 1:01
    Weekend Box Office: July 12 to 14
    IMDbrief: 3 Takeaways from Sundance 2019
    Clip 3:56
    IMDbrief: 3 Takeaways from Sundance 2019
    Spotlighting Sundance 2019's Women Directors
    Clip 3:36
    Spotlighting Sundance 2019's Women Directors
    The Categories the Golden Globes Should Have Included
    Video 3:03
    The Categories the Golden Globes Should Have Included
    The Four Things You Need to Watch Before the Golden Globes
    Video 2:01
    The Four Things You Need to Watch Before the Golden Globes
    Awkwafina Conducts an Empathy Orgy in 'The Farewell'
    Video 3:21
    Awkwafina Conducts an Empathy Orgy in 'The Farewell'

    Photos157

    Tzi Ma, Shuzhen Zhao, Han Chen, Aoi Mizuhara, Hong Lu, Diana Lin, Awkwafina, and Yongbo Jiang in The Farewell (2019)
    Shuzhen Zhao, Hong Lu, and Awkwafina in The Farewell (2019)
    Tzi Ma, Shuzhen Zhao, Han Chen, Aoi Mizuhara, Hong Lu, and Awkwafina in The Farewell (2019)
    Shuzhen Zhao and Awkwafina in The Farewell (2019)
    Tzi Ma and Awkwafina in The Farewell (2019)
    Shuzhen Zhao, Diana Lin, and Awkwafina in The Farewell (2019)
    Shuzhen Zhao, Han Chen, and Aoi Mizuhara in The Farewell (2019)
    Tzi Ma, Han Chen, Aoi Mizuhara, Hong Lu, Diana Lin, Awkwafina, and Yongbo Jiang in The Farewell (2019)
    Lulu Wang in The Farewell (2019)
    Awkwafina at an event for 2020 Golden Globe Awards (2020)
    Awkwafina at an event for The Farewell (2019)
    Lulu Wang and Awkwafina at an event for The Farewell (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shuzhen Zhao
    Shuzhen Zhao
    • Nai Naias Nai Nai
    Awkwafina
    Awkwafina
    • Billias Billi
    X Mayo
    X Mayo
    • Suzeas Suze
    Hong Lu
    • Little Nai Naias Little Nai Nai
    Hong Lin
    • Doctor Wuas Doctor Wu
    • (as Lin Hong)
    Tzi Ma
    Tzi Ma
    • Haiyanas Haiyan
    Diana Lin
    Diana Lin
    • Lu Jianas Lu Jian
    Yang Xuejian
    • Mr. Lias Mr. Li
    Becca Khalil
    Becca Khalil
    • Shirleyas Shirley
    Yongbo Jiang
    • Uncle Haibinas Uncle Haibin
    • (as Jiang Yongbo)
    Han Chen
    • Hao Haoas Hao Hao
    • (as Chen Han)
    Aoi Mizuhara
    Aoi Mizuhara
    • Aikoas Aiko
    Xiang Li
    • Aunty Lingas Aunty Ling
    • (as Li Xiang)
    Hongli Liu
    • Aunty Gaoas Aunty Gao
    • (as Liu Hongli)
    Shimin Zhang
    • Michaelas Michael
    • (as Zhang Shiming)
    Jing Zhang
    • Gu Guas Gu Gu
    • (as Zhang Jing)
    Jinhang Liu
    • Baoas Bao
    • (as Liu Jinhang)
    Xi Lin
    • Wedding Coordinatoras Wedding Coordinator
    • (as Lin Xi)
    • Director
      • Lulu Wang
    • Writer
      • Lulu Wang
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.
    • cemetery
    • doctor
    • grief
    • lie
    • secret
    • 251 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Based on an Actual Lie
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for thematic material, brief language and some smoking.
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In addition to writing and directing, Lulu Wang also plays piano on the film's soundtrack.
    • Goofs
      1:22:14 As Billi runs down the street, the crew van with it's door open is reflected in the last billboard.
    • Quotes

      Nai Nai: I walked the path of life and I have to say, you will face with difficulties. But you have to have an open mind. Don't be like a bull hitting his horns all over the walls of the room. Life isn't just about what you do, it's more about how you do it.

    • Connections
      Featured in Chris Stuckmann Movie Reviews: The Farewell (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Funk Paradise
      Written by Daniele Benati & Claudio Zanoni

      Courtesy of APM Music

    User reviews337

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    the big lie
    Billi (Awkwafina) is a 30 year old pianist in New York City. She's struggling after being rejected for a scholarship. She and her parents moved to America when she was young. She is mostly Americanized. News come that her grandmother is dying of cancer. Her family agrees to go the traditional route of hiding the diagnosis from the dying grandma. They are going home to China to fake a wedding celebration. Billi is reluctant to go with the lie.

    This is a great cultural story. It's the Chinese culture but also the influence of Western culture. It's a family story. It's also Awkwafina's best acting performance yet. Her inner conflict and her family conflict are both very compelling. There are funny little insights. It's a very touching film. I would modify the ending a little. Looking back at Nai Nai as they drive away is such a powerful scene. The movie should probably end there. The scream is not a good way to end especially with the text reveal in the closing credits. If they want to go back to Billi for the ending, it should be something more positive considering what Nai Nai tells her during the banquet.
    helpful•13
    1
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Mar 30, 2021

    FAQ3

    • Where are the filming locations?
    • Is this movie in English, or are there subtitles?
    • What war did Nai Nai and friends fight in?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 9, 2019 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • China
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • Mandarin
      • English
      • Japanese
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Lời Từ Biệt
    • Filming locations
      • Changchun, China
    • Production companies
      • Big Beach Films
      • Depth of Field
      • Kindred Spirit
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,695,781
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $355,662
      • Jul 14, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,076,657
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Tigertail's Production Was Skirting Disaster From Its Very First Scene
    Tigertail's Production Was Skirting Disaster From Its Very First Scene
    May 19Slash Film
    The west misses the point of Everything Everywhere All at Once – it gets the Asian psyche
    The west misses the point of Everything Everywhere All at Once – it gets the Asian psyche
    May 16The Guardian - Film News

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