Film + Discussion series: Asian diasporic representation from the 90's to now | The Farewell

​Join Eesha and Lizzie for Film Club’s newest event series, exploring trends in filmmaking by Asian diasporic filmmakers and how the concept of "representation" has evolved over the past thirty years! Enjoy movie screenings at The Ruby, complete with refreshments and post-film reflections.

This month, we’re screening The Farewell, written and directed by Lulu Wang. The film tells the bittersweet and deeply personal story of Billi (Awkwafina), a Chinese-American millennial who reluctantly returns to her family’s hometown in Changchun. The trip, disguised as a wedding celebration, is actually a cover for a difficult truth: Billi’s grandmother, Nai Nai, has only weeks to live, and the family has chosen not to tell her. What unfolds is a tender exploration of cultural expectations, intergenerational love, and the quiet sacrifices families make to protect one another. Awkwafina’s Golden Globe-winning performance captures Billi’s internal struggle—caught between two worlds, two cultures, and two versions of herself—as she grapples with what it means to say goodbye without actually saying it.

​Topics to consider:

• ​Themes of collective versus individual responsibility

• ​First-generation identity and cultural duality

• ​Humor and mourning

​We can’t wait to see you there!