THE FAREWELL

Based on Lulu Wang's own experience with her family, The Farewell dives into how we should treat those at the end of their lives and who should carry the emotional burden of death.

The film deftly weaves the scope of a culture with the naiveté of a pseudo foreigner played by Awkwafina.

Though she is known for her comedy, Awkwafina flexes her dramatic chops in a role that showcases her range as she plays the granddaughter of Nai Nai, the Matriarch who the family decides to hide a cancer diagnosis from.

Lulu Wang uses still shots and long takes to let the drama play out in front of the audience naturally as if we were a fly on the wall or a bird watching from above.

The film has been rightly rewarded for its excellence, and Awkwafina earned a Golden Globe for her performance, and though it wasn't featured in the Academy Awards nominations for Best Picture, it goes without saying that the Farewell is one of the best movies of 2019.