Diana Lin, born Xiao Jie Lin, is an award-winning Chinese-Australian actress. She grew up in China and at the age of fourteen, was chosen by the Chinese Beijing Opera Company to be groomed as a professional traditional Chinese Opera singer. After years of study, she graduated from The Shanghai Theater Academy as an outstanding student with a Bachelor Degree in Performing Arts. After appearing in countless films, television dramas, and operas, she immigrated to Australia in the early 1990s and reinvented herself for a Western market. Since then, she has appeared in a wide variety of films and television programs, including “The Farewell” (2019).

Diana Lin

Born in China, Billi’s (Awkwafina) parents decided to move to the States when she was still very young. Despite the distance, Billi has managed to keep a close relationship with her grandmother, Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen), who lives in Changchun. Now an aspiring writer, Billi had hoped to share with Nai Nai the news that she had just won the Guggenheim Fellowship. Unfortunately, that’s not the way things turned out. Not long after receiving that painful rejection letter, Billi’s parents inform her that her grandmother has recently been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and only has a few months left to live.

Determined to keep this devastating news from Nai Nai, no matter the cost, the entire family employs all manner of deception and manipulation. Desperate to keep Nai Nai clueless and happy, the family decides to plan a wedding for one of Billi’s cousins; giving them just the sort of excuse they need to spend these last few months with Nai Nai without raising suspicion. Afraid Billi won’t be able to keep their secret, her parents beg her to stay home but Billi absolutely refuses.&nbsp;

Now back in China, Billi uses the time to reacquaint herself with her home and her family. Spending precious time with Nai Nai, Billi finds the strength she needs to live, love, and let go.

Based on a true story, “The Farewell” is a a 2019 comedy drama film written and directed by Lulu Wang.

Shows

About

Discussion