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The Farewell

The Farewell

Comedy · Drama · 2019

A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. 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.

Movie details

The Farewell

“Based on an actual lie.”

2019 Comedy · Drama 1h 40m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. 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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Farewell?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lulu Wang

Written by

Lulu Wang

Awkwafina

Awkwafina

Billi

Zhao Shuzhen

Zhao Shuzhen

Nai Nai

H

Hong Lu

Little Nai Nai

H

Hong Lin

Doctor Wu

Tzi Ma

Tzi Ma

Haiyan

Diana Lin Xiaojie

Diana Lin Xiaojie

Lu Jian

Y

Yang Xuejian

Mr. Li

Court is in session

Put The Farewell on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.