Reseñas de la crítica

One of The Farewell’s essential problems is that its affection for and attachment to Nai Nai is so clear that the rest of its narrative points and characters feel half-hearted in comparison.

There is something hesitant about the way Wang turns this beguiling family story into a film, an unwillingness to push too hard into potentially painful emotional territory, which also keeps the comedy in check.

Wang is unapologetic about the cultural specificity of her (true) story, yet it is this limited framework that ultimately makes The Farewell a vivid and endlessly relatable story of fractured identity in a globalized world.

The story, “based on an actual lie,” never gets too sappy, and Awkwafina proves she can churn out a memorable, chucklesome performance without turning to her usual gags or one-liners. It’s especially poignant to watch as a fellow Asian American immigrant who lives an ocean away from her own family.

A tearjerker that carefully doses pathos to prevent sappiness, “The Farewell” benefits from Zhao Shuzhen’s invigorating presence; she plays Nai Nai with a vivacious, controlling but always loving personality.