Though the premise of The Farewell may seem far-fetched, it’s closely based on an amazing true story of a Chinese family who,when they discover their beloved grandmother has only a short while left to live, decide to keep her in the dark and schedule an impromptu wedding to gather together before she passes. This is especially troubling to the woman’s New York-raised granddaughter Billi, who feels like a fish out of water in her home country and struggles with the family's decision to hide the truth from her grandmother. The film review site Rotten Tomatoes says, “The Farewell deftly captures complicated family dynamics with a poignant, well-acted drama that marries cultural specificity with universally relatable themes.” Even better, Golden Globes voters thought Awkwafina deserved the Best Actress award for her role as Billi.

The Farewell opens a window on another culture, but also has some very funny moments despite its rather serious subject matter. Though there are subtitles, plenty of English is spoken, and it’s not hard to follow the plot. “The Farewell is an equally hilarious and heartbreaking examination of grief, family and tradition,” says Jennifer Heaton of Alternative Lens, while Cinema 76’s Ryan Silberstein says the film is “not only well-written, but superbly directed with wonderful (and often understated) performances.”

1:38, rated PG for thematic material, brief language and some smoking.