The Farewell is a poignant, funny and uplifting story of family life, where older generations of Chinese still hold on to long held traditions, despite now living in America. Nai-Nai is unaware that doctors have given her only a few weeks to live, but the family have been told and decide not to tell her. Granddaughter Billi (Awkwafina), reluctantly travels to China with her family to see her for the last time, but is torn between the truth and abiding by the decision of the family. We travel with Billi back to her roots and through a maze of culture, mixed with respect and love to make sense of this dilemma.

This film is a beautiful and quietly powerful documentary; a portrait of a vanishing way of life and of a determined woman, Hatidze, who is trying to make a humble living harvesting honey from the wild bees in an isolated Macedonian valley. Hatidze is a remarkable woman, a natural optimist who’s attempts to help her new, itinerant family, neighbours has life changing consequences for her way of life.

Bonus FREE feature. Ken Loach’s illustration of life in the gig economy.