MOVIE TIP

The Farewell

It’s hard to believe the central conceit of “The Farewell” is true: Family members conspire to lie to their matriarch. They refuse to tell her that she has lung cancer. They don’t want her to live in fear. But this movie is based on what really happened when writer/director Lulu Wang’s clan learned about the diagnosis of her beloved grandmother, who still lived in China even as her sons relocated to Japan and the U.S. What’s so intriguing about “The Farewell” is the glimpses of life in China, of how this family lives and interacts, what their dinners and weddings are like. Awkwafina shows her dramatic chops as she plays the character based on Wang. The slow pace of "The Farewell" might turn off some moviegoers, but stick with it: you’ll find yourself enriched to have spent time with this family.