The Farewell (2019)

Remember the name Lulu Wang, she is a director that will have a bright future. This film is a visionary.
Billie (Awkafina) is informed that her beloved grandmother (Zhao Shuzhen) is dying of cancer and no one in the family wants to tell, fearing that it will a death sentence for her to know.
Despite having no money (the major plot hole in this impeccable script), Billie flies back to China where the family is gathering for her poor cousin's (Chen Han's) wedding to his girlfriend of just three months, whom he may or may not love (and she's NOT pregnant). Nai Nai knows that something is wrong but thinks that her medicine just needs adjusting and she throws herself into the wedding preparations. wondering why Billie has such a long face.
While the plot is basic, it is a revelation nevertheless and though Billie's shoulders are hunched over, whether from her lackluster career, probably her favorite person on Earth dying or the weight of carrying this film, she delivers a remarkable performance.
In the end, despite Billie wanting to stay with her grandmother, she rather reluctantly returns to New York, with a new-found spirit. I hope things get better for her.
Despite the morose overtone of this film, it truly shows how supportive of a family can be for one another, however misguided their intentions are. Billie doesn't go against her family's wishes, even going as far as getting the test records changed (which would undoubtedly be illegal in America) so Nai Nai can be happy and enjoy the rest of the wedding and her life. The film also has a quiet, lyrical nature to it and is filled with great, nature performances, you almost forget you're watching a film, not a documentary. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Nai Nai is very wise, valuing independence over a relatively unhappy relationship and stating that it isn't what you do but how you do it that matters. Wiser words have never been said.
-That hospital must be pretty close to the banquet hall for Billie to run all that way.
-I might be in the minority but I was rooting for a relationship between Billie and the Britain-educated doctor. That being said, it is also great to see a film where there isn't a love line as one of the major plot lines.
-Pay attention to the bird motifs throughout.
-Another thing that needed more explanation is the sudden appearance of the pug, Ellen (yeah, not thrilled about that). She's only in one scene and it is never mentioned who her owner is.