Lulu
tributed to the fight that I fought to tell the story. So I certainly would not have been able to make this film 10 years ago, but
WANG
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I also think that the world was probably not ready. I think that the political climate, everything that’s happening in the world, has forced us to look at things differently than we have in the past.
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On the cultural impact of The Farewell and how it changed her own family’s dynamics BY D I N O - R AY R A M O S
Nigeria’s Lionheart was disqualified as an international film Academy entry because it’s in English. The Farewell is an American film, but mostly in Mandarin. What’s your stance on this? I think it’s a really interesting year. The Fare-
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HEN LULU WANG’S THE FAREWELL DEBUTED
at Sundance, it immediately became the talk of Hollywood. The dramedy based on Wang’s own story about her family keeping her grandmother’s cancer diagnosis a secret goes beyond family issues. It’s also an immigration story that explores cultural identity through Awkwafina’s character, Billi. The Farewell has received numerous accolades, but for Wang, she is just happy with sharing her story with the world. Deadline talked to her about the impact of the film, Hollywood’s perception of foreign films, and how she hopes to continue to advocate for underrepresented voices.
well is an American film that happened to be in a foreign language, and the Nigerian film Lionheart is a foreign film that’s in English. And so it makes you question, well what does it mean to be American? What does it mean to be foreign? If you speak English because your country was colonized, then are you not foreign? I’m optimistic in a way now about it, because I think if you look at the big picture, it’s a really great dilemma to have because it means that films are being made that challenge the boxes. It challenges rules for different awards ceremonies. In the Golden Globes, we’re considered a foreign
The film has certainly struck a chord
How has your family responded since
language film. Now, technically that’s true,
with the Asian American commu-
its release and has it changed the fam-
we are a foreign language film. They’re not
nity, but how has the response been
ily’s dynamic?
calling it an international film or a foreign
outside of it?
My family responded really well. I mean,
film, they’re saying it’s in a foreign lan-
It’s been really great. I’ve traveled in
they’ve really come to terms with it. I think
guage. But it just means that you’re then
Europe, where a lot of the interna-
in the beginning it took some adjustment
in a category with non-Americans. So The
tional releases are starting to roll out,
on multiple levels, having such a personal
Farewell was in the category with a French
and it’s been really interesting to see,
family story out in the world.
film and Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, which is
because having made a film that so
Also, for my parents to see my career
Korean. But in many ways, I think that I’m
many people didn’t want to make and
and my life completely change because of
closer identity-wise to maybe Scorsese,
felt was going to be super niche, to see
this one project—I think that they are really
who makes films about the Italian-Ameri-
it travel to all of these countries that
proud. I think that they’ve just become
can experience and the immigrant experi-
I’ve never been to before, and have it
more used to the fact that the story is out
ence, which is what I’m doing. It’s what The
resonate with audiences so deeply has
in the world. I think it changed the dynamic
Farewell is. It’s about being an immigrant,
been very enlightening.
because the secret was within our family.
being a hyphenate. To not be recognized
They felt more okay about keeping a se-
that way is problematic. I think that a lot of
The film has played globally, but has
cret. But now that the whole world knows, I
these organizations are not prepared for it,
there been a common reaction to the
think that some members of my family feel
because when the films are not made that
film? Or is it different depending on
less okay about keeping the secret from
challenge these rules, then you can’t have
where you are in the world?
my grandma.
a conversation about it.
are from the perspective of somebody
How do you think The Farewell would
Academy, because traditionally the rules
whose family is Chinese and who has
have played if it were released 10
around foreign and international films were
then immigrated to America. But travel-
years ago?
made to recognize films that might not
ing with this film makes me realize that
It’s hard to imagine, because so much
otherwise be recognized. Films that are in
so many people have the same exact
of life is about the right thing at the right
a foreign language exclude Australia and
experience—even if the place they
time. First of all, I would not have been able
the U.K., Right? So I actually understand
come from and the place they live are
to make the film 10 years ago because of
why they took this approach to make this
very different.
age. Getting older and having more experi-
set of rules—but then here comes a film
ence, and also the state of the world con-
that challenges that. ★
I think of a lot of the themes in the film
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D E A D L I N E .C O M / AWA R D S L I N E
1218 - 5 - Dialogue - Lulu Wang.indd 44
I actually respect the rules of the
PHOTOGRAPH BY
Michael Buckner
12/13/19 10:20 AM
