After learning their beloved matriarch has terminal lung cancer, a family opts not to tell her about the diagnosis, instead scheduling an impromptu wedding-reunion back in China. Headstrong and emotional writer Billi rebels against her parents’ directive to stay in New York and joins the family as they awkwardly attempt to rekindle old bonds, throw together a wedding that only grandma is actually looking forward to, and surreptitiously say their goodbyes. A heartfelt celebration of both the way we perform family and the way we live it, The Farewell masterfully interweaves a gently humorous depiction of the good lie in action with a thoughtful exploration of how our cultural heritage does and does not travel with us when we leave our homes. Writer/director Lulu Wang imbues The Farewell with warmth and knowing wit, while the uniformly excellent ensemble cast (anchored by a breakout performance by Awkwafina) invites us to share this extended clan’s joy and sorrow—and to feel, for the length of this remarkable film, like a part of their family.
Sundance FF
Palm Springs IFF 2019 - Directors to Watch Award; Sundance FF: London 2019 - Audience Favourite Award; VC FilmFest 2019 - Audience Award; Heartland Film 2019 - Truly Moving Picture Award
Lulu Wang is a classical-pianist-turned-filmmaker. Her first feature, Posthumous, starring Jack Huston and Brit Marling, was released by The Orchard. Born in Beijing, raised in Miami, and educated in Boston, Lulu is a recipient of the 2014 Chaz and Roger Ebert Directing Fellowship, awarded at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. She's also a 2014 Film Independent Project Involve Directing fellow and a 2017 fellow with Sundance Institute’s FilmTwo Initiative, a program supporting second-time feature filmmakers.
2014 Posthumous
2019 Pożegnanie / The Farewell