I am re-posting my Sundance review of Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” because of its impending theatrical release this coming Friday. Also, look for an interview with Wang to be posted later this week — she has truly directed one of the very best movies you will see this summer.
Despite the unequivocal success of last year’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” and 1993’s surprise hit “The Joy Luck Club,” outside these outliers, Asian-American stories have lacked tangible representation on screen for decades. “Crazy Rich Asians” runaway success only underlined the severe drought: audiences completely underserved and hungry for their own cultural narratives. At his year’s Sundance Film Festival, the programmers have put in a real effort for change. Most notable in this move towards greater inclusivity is “The Farewell” from Asian-American director Lulu Wang (“Posthumous”), an immaculately impressive film which tackles its themes of love, loss, and family with such touching profundity; its simple manner makes for a knockout of emotional resonance.