Selected and facilitated by Doug Dunderdale
"Based on an actual lie," THE FAREWELL follows Billi (Awkwafina), a young Chinese American woman who learns that her beloved grandmother, Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhao), has cancer -- and only a few weeks left to live. Billi is further shocked to find out that her extended family has vowed to keep Nai Nai in the dark about her diagnosis, creating the ruse of a wedding as an excuse for them to gather to see her one last time. As the family comes together in Changchun, Billi struggles with Eastern vs. Western philosophies of how to live life.
"As a Chinese-American grappling with the traditionalism of her past and its impact on the future, she's (Awkwafina’s Billi) an absorbing engine for the movie's introspective look at a most unusual family reunion." IndieWire
"'The Farewell,' Lulu Wang’s second feature, conjures a premise so rich with potential comedy, heartbreak and family weirdness that it can only have come from real life. Which it did, via an episode of 'This American Life' that first aired in 2016. The film version, which announces itself as 'based on an actual lie,' has a loose, anecdotal structure and a tone that balances candor and tact. Much of the charm and power of this story — about events leading up to a wedding that’s also a fake funeral of sorts — come from the palpable sense that it genuinely happened to someone." New York Times
Free Admission.
Location: First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, 94704
About the Faith & Film series:
In this series we will examine the potent and relevant medium of film in exploring themes of love, faith, conscience, evil, death, reception, grace, morality, identity, and our yearning for the sacred. Each month we will view a different film––each unique, compelling, and demanding––reflecting our current times. Each film is curated by those who love this artistic medium and will host a conversation following our viewing. Co-sponsored by New College Berkeley and First Presbyterian Church Berkeley.
Event details:
FPCB is located at 2407 Dana Street, Berkeley, and the event will start promptly at 7PM in Geneva Hall, Room G202. This co-sponsored event includes free parking in the FPCB underground parking lot (on Channing Way). You must leave a note on your dashboard indicating the event you are attending.