Friday 6th March
6.15pm

The Farewell
Dir: Lulu Wang
2019 (China/USA)
Starring:  Awkwafina,  Tzi Ma,  Diana Lin,  Jim Liu,  Shuzhen Zhou,  Gil Perez-Abraham
98 minutes
Cert PG

The push and pull between the bonds of blood and the ties of culture are explored with a light touch and a perceptive eye for detail in this delightful, semi-autobiographical family drama from writer and director Lulu Wang. 

The Farewell is a drama in which a young woman and her family return to China to spend time with her maternal grandmother, who has been diagnosed with a terminal cancer. A hastily convened wedding provides the cover story to bring the extended family back to China to bid farewell to their unwitting matriarch. Ultimately, it’s all about balance, a yin and yang of roots and identities, humour and pathos that comes together into a satisfying, bittersweet wedding banquet of a movie. 

Introduced by Dr Min Ge, a specialist in contemporary Chinese culture and politics. He is also head of the China Centre at the University of Chester.  

Awards: Awkwafina: Winner of Best Actress in a Drama at 2020 Golden Globes. 

The Farewell launches the festival in style, followed by a drinks reception – your ticket stub includes a free drink.