The Farewell - Movie Reviews (2024)

Lulu Wang has made an expertly and sagely constructed ode to both western and eastern values, joining them together with familial sentimentality, resulting in charm and effortless poignancy.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 14, 2024

The Farwell is not only a loving tribute to the women who carry our families, but it’s deeply relatable, with humor and honesty shining through the somber moments of life.

Full Review | Apr 4, 2024

In this powerful family drama, Awkwafina's performance transcends culture and dares you not to cry.

Full Review | Jan 31, 2024

A worthwhile diversion to so much summer blockbuster fare.

Full Review | Nov 8, 2023

An opening title card tells us this is a film “Based on an actual lie.” Funny thing is “The Farewell” is one of the truest movies about illness and grief I’ve seen in a while.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 20, 2022

Lulu Wang’s The Farewell is a groundbreaking work that’s authentic and deeply affecting.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 20, 2022

The upcoming death feels like a metaphor for the movie itself. It brings some universal theme around family and immigration, but it's just way, way too slow. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jul 7, 2022

The Farewell is heartwarming, capably made, exceptionally well-acted, and achingly sincere without ever resorting to sentimentality.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Feb 26, 2022

Episode 45: The Farewell / Jackie Brown / Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

Full Review | Original Score: 72/100 | Oct 4, 2021

Bring a box of tissues... [Awkwafina] is super darling.

Full Review | Sep 29, 2021

Lulu Wang's The Farewell is a particularly articulate piece of filmmaking. It beautifully captures the sense of alienation of a child of two cultures, and finds warmth and humour in little family moments.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 10, 2021

Lulu Wang's The Farewell is bittersweet in the truest sense of the word, balancing on the knife edge of grief and joy.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 25, 2021

The movie wants you to believe that there are no easy answers [...] But unfortunately, there are easy answers here, and The Farewell did not do a good enough job of convincing me that this lie was necessary or ethical.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 19, 2021

No matter where you come from, you'll likely find some point of connection with The Farewell. The film's themes of love and loss resonate far beyond its Chinese location, thanks to a talented cast and deft writing and directing.

Full Review | Feb 18, 2021

Isn't this life? Nobody really knows, we just do the best we can.

Full Review | Feb 8, 2021

It is remarkable that Wang created this film...steeped in Chinese and Chinese-American culture and yet has a message so strong that it can appeal to wide audiences.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Feb 2, 2021

A slow burn, a movie that builds to a poignant climax that not only feels earned but deserved.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 31, 2021

A profound meditation on young vs. old and East vs. West, [The Farewell] looks to bridge a generational and cultural divide...through reconciliation and understanding.

Full Review | Original Score: A | Jan 29, 2021

It is exactly what it is, unapologetically. A funny, sweet, heart-felt, heart-wrenching film about family, identity, love and loss.

Full Review | Jan 29, 2021

Such an average, uneventful, small, intimately-designed, down-to-earth, slice-of-life drama that very little of it is memorable.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Dec 7, 2020