The Farewell
A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.
Despite its extremely modest budget of $250K, The Farewell became a commercial juggernaut, earning $23.1M worldwide—a remarkable 9120% return. The film's bold vision resonated with audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Farewell (2019) demonstrates deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Lulu Wang's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Billi walks through New York streets, financially struggling but close with her grandmother Nai Nai in China through phone calls. She lies about wearing a hat, showing their intimate but distant relationship.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Billi's parents reveal that Nai Nai has stage 4 lung cancer and only months to live, but the family has decided to hide the diagnosis from her. Billi is shocked and morally conflicted by this deception.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat At the wedding rehearsal dinner, Nai Nai gives a speech about family and togetherness that moves everyone to tears. Billi realizes the deception is working too well - but the weight of the lie is becoming unbearable. False victory (secret holding) meets false defeat (emotional toll)., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Billi breaks down crying in front of Nai Nai at the hotel, nearly exposing everything. Though she claims it's about her parents leaving her, this is her darkest moment - the emotional burden has become too much. The "death" is of her ability to maintain the deception., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The final goodbye at the airport. Billi has learned to hold paradox: grieving while celebrating, lying while loving, being American and Chinese. She says farewell to Nai Nai without revealing the truth, honoring both her grandmother and her family's choice., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Farewell's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Farewell against these established plot points, we can identify how Lulu Wang utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Farewell within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Billi walks through New York streets, financially struggling but close with her grandmother Nai Nai in China through phone calls. She lies about wearing a hat, showing their intimate but distant relationship.
Theme
Billi's mother explains the Chinese belief that "it's the family's duty to carry the emotional burden" of a terminal diagnosis, not the patient's. This articulates the film's central question: who has the right to truth?
Worldbuilding
Billi's life in New York is established: her rejection from a Guggenheim fellowship, her close relationship with Nai Nai via phone, her immigrant parents. We see her straddling two cultures - American individualism and Chinese collectivism.
Disruption
Billi's parents reveal that Nai Nai has stage 4 lung cancer and only months to live, but the family has decided to hide the diagnosis from her. Billi is shocked and morally conflicted by this deception.
Resistance
Billi debates whether the family's decision is right. Her parents forbid her from going to China for the fake wedding they've staged to see Nai Nai one last time. Billi struggles between Western ethics (tell the truth) and Eastern values (protect family).
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The "fun and games" of an elaborate family deception: wedding preparations, family gatherings, keeping up appearances. Billi navigates keeping the secret while spending precious time with Nai Nai, experiencing Chinese family culture and the weight of collective decision-making.
Midpoint
At the wedding rehearsal dinner, Nai Nai gives a speech about family and togetherness that moves everyone to tears. Billi realizes the deception is working too well - but the weight of the lie is becoming unbearable. False victory (secret holding) meets false defeat (emotional toll).
Opposition
Pressure mounts as Nai Nai shows subtle signs of illness, Billi's emotional control cracks, and family tensions rise. Billi confronts her mother about leaving her in China as a child. The lie becomes harder to maintain as reality intrudes.
Collapse
Billi breaks down crying in front of Nai Nai at the hotel, nearly exposing everything. Though she claims it's about her parents leaving her, this is her darkest moment - the emotional burden has become too much. The "death" is of her ability to maintain the deception.
Crisis
Billi processes her grief and helplessness. In quiet moments, she watches Nai Nai sleep, contemplates telling her the truth. She sits with the impossible choice and the reality that she must say goodbye without saying goodbye.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The final goodbye at the airport. Billi has learned to hold paradox: grieving while celebrating, lying while loving, being American and Chinese. She says farewell to Nai Nai without revealing the truth, honoring both her grandmother and her family's choice.