U.S. Asian-American family drama meets Chinese viewers
By Li Qiong
03:17

One of the hit American films of 2019, "The Farewell", an exploration of the shock that comes with Chinese and American cultural differences, has been released in Chinese theaters, six months after its U.S. release.

The film is about a reunion in China that gathers family members from across the world - including the U.S. - with news that the family grandmother has only a short while left to live. Some want to tell her the truth, but others want to hide it. It delves deep into Chinese mainland and American-Chinese cultural differences.

The film, which was well-received in U.S. theaters, finally hit Chinese theaters last Friday... but reactions from local audiences are less than optimistic. Some moviegoers said they haven't heard of it, and some showed little interest in it.

As for that score, the movie received 7.3 points out of 10 on popular Chinese review site Douban, a score considered to be just average.

Xie Sisi, manager of Zhongchuan International Cinema in Beijing, said seats aren't selling well for this movie. "We arranged three showings a day over the first weekend, and 20 percent of seats were sold. It's not among the best sellers in our theater."

Despite a few viewers, those who have seen the movie say it doesn't disappoint. "The plot developed very flat, but it's quite touching. Cultural differences between Chinese and Americans are presented quite well. And the story reminds me of my own life experiences. I think it's very well told," Said Feng Yuxia, a moviegoer.

Earlier this month, lead actress Awkwafina, the child of Asian immigrants in the U.S., took home the Golden Globes Award for best actress. "We are raised to feel very American, and when we go back, we're told that you don't belong here when you go back to where you belong you also feel like a stranger there. And it's a constant feeling of being lost in translation, and I think that's what really resonated with me with 'The Farewell'," Said Awkwafina.

Cultural differences have made the story. It's also the cultural differences that have led to different reactions in different markets.