The Farewell's reviews
Media reviews
Chicago Sun-Times
From the moment Awkwafina-as-Billi appears onscreen, that?s never a concern. She disappears into the character and delivers one of the most effective, endearing and impactful performances of the year.
The Washington Post
'The Farewell' pays delightful, insightful homage to the facades and pretenses nearly everyone adopts in the name of compassion.
Roger Ebert
The director pulled off one of the most perfect endings you?ll ever see. The entire film is pretty perfect, actually, and it?s one of the year?s best.
The Wrap
The cultural subtleties Wang inserts purposefully elevate 'The Farewell' to have not only emotional impact but also revelatory social significance.
Indiewire
Building to the potential of a confrontation with the wedding climax, 'The Farewell' threatens to melt into sentimentalism, but Wang dodges the obvious pathways to a tidy resolution.
The Hollywood Reporter
Wang shows an assured grasp of tone, a pleasing eye for unforced composition and a persuasive understanding of the immigrant cultural experience, with its sometimes difficult balance of tradition and modernity.
Variety
What makes 'The Farewell' so effective is that in delving into such a specific case, the film invites audiences to reflect on the passing of relatives close to them.
New York Times
Its affection for its characters feels protective; the film is reluctant to spill any secrets or cause any embarrassment. There is admirable kindness and impressive loyalty in this approach, but it also puts a bit of a damper on the party.