A24 has a way of giving us the best indie films of our time. From Room and Lady Bird to Moonlight and The Witch, the small indie distribution company has built a very loyal fanbase based on films that are not blockbusters like the ones we are accustomed to seeing from Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, and Paramount.

Now A24 has released an official trailer for one of their latest film that shows that they are firm believers in giving audiences smaller films with great stories, The Farewell. The film comes from writer and director Lulu Wang, and stars Awkwafina. Check out the trailer below.

Wang’s The Farewell debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival where it was met with rave reviews. Many praised Wang’s universal story for being honest, poignant, and endearing, while Awkwafina’s performance is a revelation. And that is perhaps what I am impressed with the most. Here we see Awkwafina, who is known for her strong comedic roles, in a powerful story that everyone can relate to. It shows how far she has come and how versatile she can be when she is given the material. One thing is for sure, I can’t wait to see this movie.

In The Farewell, Awkwafina plays Chinese-born, U.S.-raised Billi, who joins her family one a trip to China to visit their beloved Nai-Nai, who is dying of cancer. But instead of telling her, they whip up an impromptu wedding to gather the family together before she passes.

The film grapples with the differences in cultural customs and how one reconciles with their identity. Wang’s universal story is also “based on an actual lie,” which many families deal with in similar situations. It’s one story that I happen to relate to, and the fact that I can see myself in these characters makes it all the more powerful.

Written and directed by Wang, the film also stars Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen, Lu Hong, Jiang Yongbo, Chen Han, Aoi Mizuhara, and Li Xiang.

The Farewell opens in theaters on July 12, 2019.

Trailer

[Source: A24 YT]