The Farewell

The Farewell centers on Billi, a Chinese American photographer who returns to her homeland after Nai Nai, the beloved grandmother she adores, receives a terminal diagnosis. Rather than let Nai Nai know the prognosis, the family chooses a different path and engineers a hurried wedding to bring relatives together for one visit. The ruse travels across continents, inviting sharp humor and intimate heartbreak as misunderstandings and cultural cues collide. Billi carries the weight of family duty alongside feelings about home and belonging, trying to respect her grandmother while staying true to herself. The story draws directly from Lulu Wang's life, using small, lived details rather than big dramatic turns to reveal warmth, stubborn love, and the complexity of family ties.

Directed by Lulu Wang, The Farewell draws on her own family experience and is presented as a bilingual cross cultural story. It premiered at Sundance 2019 and was released in the United States by A24, earning wide critical praise worldwide.

Worldwide the film grossed $23,076,657, a solid return for a micro-budget drama. Its steady box office growth reflected strong word of mouth and festival momentum, helping the movie reach diverse audiences beyond typical art house crowds in theaters worldwide today.

During awards season the film earned significant recognition, with Awkwafina winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. The Farewell also drew nominations from major bodies and critics groups, highlighting Lulu Wang's screenplay and the film's nuanced balance of humor and sentiment that resonated with many.

Critics praised how the film combines humor with restraint to explore family bonds, language barriers, and cultural identity. It treats private grief with dignity while letting awkward moments and affection surface naturally. The result is an intimate drama that invites audiences to reconsider visibility and belonging in a global context.