The Farewell (2019) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
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.
Rated PG • 2019 • 1h 38m
A Chinese-American woman's family keeps her grandmother's terminal cancer diagnosis secret from her — and organises a fake wedding as an excuse to visit. Awkwafina. The PG rating is appropriate — a warm, culturally specific family drama.
Cast
Is The Farewell appropriate for kids?
A Chinese-American woman's family keeps her grandmother's terminal cancer diagnosis secret from her — and organises a fake wedding as an excuse to visit. Awkwafina. The PG rating is appropriate — a warm, culturally specific family drama. Read more — free account
Content severity in The Farewell
What happens in The Farewell, moment by moment
- 0:08 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
- 0:35 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
- 1:05 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
Sex and nudity in The Farewell
There is no depicted sexual content or nudity in this film. The story focuses entirely on family dynamics and cultural traditions, avoiding any romantic or sexual situations. The tone remains respectful and grounded in domestic life.
Violence and gore in The Farewell
The film contains no physical violence or gore. Conflict is expressed through emotional disagreements and the internal struggle of keeping a secret, rather than any aggressive actions or threats. There are occasional hospital-related scenes, but they do not feature medical trauma.
Language in The Farewell
The dialogue includes some mild language, primarily consisting of moderate expletives and insults used to express frustration. Phrases like 'bullsh*t' and 'stinks' are used occasionally in both English and subtitled Mandarin. Overall, the vocabulary remains consistent with a domestic PG-rated drama.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Farewell
While there is no illicit drug use, characters are seen consuming alcohol during family meals and celebratory banquets. Some adults are shown smoking cigarettes in social settings, reflecting realistic cultural habits in the region. These instances are background elements of the family gathering and are not presented as problematic behavior.
Mature themes in The Farewell
The cultural difference between Chinese and Western approaches to death — whether to tell a patient their diagnosis. A woman torn between two cultures' ways of loving. A film about how families say what they cannot say directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Farewell appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Farewell is best for ages 12+. It's rated PG. A Chinese-American woman's family keeps her grandmother's terminal cancer diagnosis secret from her — and organises a fake wedding as an excuse to visit. Awkwafina. The PG rating is appropriate — a warm, culturally…
What age rating does The Farewell have?
The Farewell is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 12+.
What is The Farewell about?
A Chinese-American woman's family keeps her grandmother's terminal cancer diagnosis secret from her — and organises a fake wedding as an excuse to visit. Awkwafina. The PG rating is appropriate — a warm, culturally specific family drama.
Is there sex or nudity in The Farewell?
There is no depicted sexual content or nudity in this film. The story focuses entirely on family dynamics and cultural traditions, avoiding any romantic or sexual situations. The tone remains respectful and grounded in domestic life.
How violent is The Farewell?
The film contains no physical violence or gore. Conflict is expressed through emotional disagreements and the internal struggle of keeping a secret, rather than any aggressive actions or threats. There are occasional hospital-related scenes, but they do not…
Is the language in The Farewell appropriate for kids?
The dialogue includes some mild language, primarily consisting of moderate expletives and insults used to express frustration. Phrases like 'bullsh*t' and 'stinks' are used occasionally in both English and subtitled Mandarin. Overall, the vocabulary remains…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Farewell?
While there is no illicit drug use, characters are seen consuming alcohol during family meals and celebratory banquets. Some adults are shown smoking cigarettes in social settings, reflecting realistic cultural habits in the region. These instances are…
What mature themes appear in The Farewell?
The cultural difference between Chinese and Western approaches to death — whether to tell a patient their diagnosis. A woman torn between two cultures' ways of loving. A film about how families say what they cannot say directly.
How long is The Farewell?
The Farewell runs 98 minutes, directed by Lulu Wang, released in 2019.
Where can I read the full The Farewell parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.
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