Asian perspective: Review of The Farewell Awkwafina movie part 2/2

(Continued from last post)

What amazed me about this movie is how popular it has become in the US. It has been very highly valued in the American media. I did like it too, but to me, I consider it to be one of the better made Chinese movie out of all the Chinese movies they make in a year in China. Yes, Chinese movies, as in movies made in China. This film, to me, follows largely the "formula" or pattern of Chinese movies, with Chines humor, Chinese artistic style, and maybe with some western Hollywood influence mixed in, likely due to the involvement of Awkwafina, an American rapper. But the humor, artistic style and editing are very habitual and unsurprising for a Chinese movie viewer like me. I embrace them. And they are a norm to me. But to the general American audience who are not acquainted with this type of movie-making -- specifically things like Asian humor, Chinese landscapes, family relationships of Chinese people, etc this can be new and fun to watch for an American audience, who is probably pleasantly surprised and entertained.  Most Americans have never had the chance to scrutinize the happenings inside a Chinese family. So this is just something new and refreshing. In other words, it is exotic. Which is why it became popular in the US.  The Farewell definitely stands out on its own as well-made compared to other Chinese movies, and plus the fame of Awkwafina which make the film a success in the US.

I really like the "realness" of the film. No character was stereotypical or cliche or predictable. They are all so real we can find one of two relatives that kind of resemble them. That would really hit hard for the Asian audiences. Especially the fact that every one of us has had a grandma. Everyone can relate to the loss of family members. That's why it is a film for everybody. Since the whole topic revolves around death, during the film I prepped myself mentally and was so ready to cry by the end. However the ending surprised me and my tears just never fell. They kind of choked back which was awkward. But I am happy about the ending which I shall not spoil here.

Anyway, I don't want to sound like a dork but to an Asian movie viewer like me, it is a great Chinese film but not such an over the top masterpiece as some would have said it to be.

Official Review of The Farewell by an Asian American actress Sadie 1/2

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So last week I watched The Farewell starring Awkwafina and other buddy Asian actors. Now, as an Asian and American actress, I do have my two cents to say about this trending film. Short summary is: I liked it! My American (white) friend who went with me really loved it. And I understood where that came from as well.

First, I was born in Taiwan and raised in the US. I totally dig the family dynamics in the movie - because my family is very very similar and I can say that the movie really portrayed the concept of the Chinese family very well. Chinese families are huge, with different members who think different thoughts. But on the surface, we want to keep it looking peaceful. "he" or the word "peace" is a central concept for the Confuscius thinking Chinese people and the Chinese family. We try our best to maintain peace on the surface and most decisions are made so to maintain the peaceful surface.

But underneath, it is definitely chaos. Especially in the film, there are family members coming from all over the place such as US, Japan...etc. Each member holds a different view on life and the meaning of "family". The discussions and fights all happen in private spaces, away from the center of the family - the grandma. Even though they all try to hide the truth that grandma has cancer from grandma herself, I feel like this grandma already knew because can they be more obvious by acting so weird! Hijacking her medical exam report? A fifty year old son crying like a baby at a wedding? Yea even I would have guessed it, not to mention a wise old Chinese grandma. However, grandma still pretends to play along with them. Just to be considerate and retain the "peace". This is my objective opinion though. The film never revealed if she ever "knew" about her illness.

I love how the film looks at death. It is sad and also humorous. I have learned in my acting class that humor and sadness are basically side by side, separated only by a thin sheet of paper. In this film, many moments definitely make me teary at one point, but then my tears never has a chance to fall down because I have to laugh at the play of humor which closely follows the sad moment.

(more to follow...)