The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

The Farewell: 10 Things We Learned From The Director’s Commentary

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The Farewell’s DVD/Blue Ray release included a great director’s commentary with Lulu Wang. This feature offered insight into one of 2019’s best films.

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The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

The Farewell proved to be one of 2019’s best films, in part thanks to the excellent directing of Lulu Wang. Though the DVD/Blu-Ray release doesn’t offer a robust amount of bonus features, it does feature a great commentary with Wang and her director of photography, Anna Franquesa Solano.

There are so many little tidbits that Wang and Solano discuss regarding the process that we wouldn’t have otherwise learned. Here are some of our favorites.

9 Lulu Wang Didn’t Go To Film School

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

It’s not necessarily a pre-requisite to directing a movie, but many directors do go that route. Lulu Wang, we discovered, did not. Instead, she learned a great deal from listening to other directors’ commentaries on DVD. That’s pretty impressive for only having directed one other feature-length film before The Farewell. We’re going to go listen to some more commentaries now!

8 Little Nai Nai Almost Didn’t Get Hired

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

It’s pretty rare for an individual in a real-life story to play themselves on the screen. That’s precisely what happened here in The Farewell with Lulu Wang’s great aunt, Little Nai Nai.

However, this almost didn’t happen. The film’s producers were concerned that by hiring Little Nai Nai to portray herself would be asking her to relive the trauma she experienced as she was the first to lie to her sister Nai Nai about the cancer diagnosis. We’re happy that we got to see her, though, because she gives a remarkable performance.

7 The Tai Chi Scene Almost Got Cut

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

Almost no film is spared having at least one deleted scene or two come post-production. Surprisingly, one of the most iconic scenes of the film almost landed on the cutting room floor.

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The first scene that Wang shot was the scene in which Nai Nai is with Billi doing some tai chi exercises. They did many takes of the scene, but Wang wasn’t confident it was working. They did 19 takes in total and, thankfully, the scene made it into the final cut.

6 The Lazy Susan Scene Was Really Hard To Shoot

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

The Farewell has more than its fair share of food and eating scenes. Because of continuity issues, these can be some of the most difficult to shoot. One meal scene was particularly difficult because of a lazy susan on the table.

When Wang and the crew went to shoot this scene, the motor controlling the lazy susan went kaput, forcing a crew member to operate it by hand. Wang was very concerned about keeping the pacing on track, but thanks to a dedicated crew and good editing, the scene turned out well.

5 Ellen Is Little Nai Nai’s Real Dog

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

Little Nai Nai wasn’t the only real-life individual to portray themselves onscreen. Her little dog named Ellen also made a cameo in the film! Wang didn’t care much for Ellen’s wardrobe and wanted it changed, but it remained as is. How can you not love this doggo, though? We wish we could have seen more of her.

4 Lulu Wang’s Favorite Scene To Shoot Was At The Gravesite

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

One thing that makes The Farewell such a fascinating film is its exploration of Chinese identity through both an Eastern and Western lens. Sparks always fly when the family comes together, and though there are never yelling matches in this family’s story, their differing backgrounds make for some tense conversations.

The tension mostly melts away in Wang’s favorite scene at the gravesite of the deceased patriarch, Nai Nai’s husband. Wang loved shooting the scene because it juxtaposed the sacred with humor as the family finds themselves trying to do right by their patriarch and celebrate him properly.

3 Chen Han Got Very Method

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

Method acting is not an approach many actors take, but for those who can pull it off, it can be quite a performance. Chen Han, who portrays Billi’s cousin Hao Hao, decided to take that approach as he performed in several scenes. Wang mentions that Han has a deep relationship with his own grandmother and wanted to act as though Nai Nai were his own.

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At one point during the wedding, we see a very drunk Hao Hao openly weeping. Wang revealed in the commentary that Han was indeed quite drunk prior to filming the scene and approached her in that state. She was concerned it would wear off by the time shooting actually happened, but it seems Han managed to maintain his alcohol-sodden state of mind.

2 The Drinking Game Was Really Fun To Shoot

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

One scene that was as fun to shoot as it is to watch is the drinking game at the wedding. Wang had to make sure that shooting stayed on schedule so that the scene wouldn’t have to be discarded. Despite some setbacks and delays, they were able to pull it off.

It took three days to make a mechanism whereby Anna Franquesa Solano could operate the camera to create the desired effect. Solano had to operate the camera from beneath the table and relied upon precise marks for the camera to hit because there was no monitor to see what was happening.

1 The Running Scene Was Done In One Take

The Farewell 10 Things We Learned From The Directors Commentary

Action movies make simple actions like running seem easy to shoot. In fact, they are not. During a scene in which Billi goes to the hospital to pick up Nai Nai’s health report, she runs as fast as she can to prevent someone else from getting the report.

This was particularly difficult to shoot because there couldn’t be any cars on the street where they were shooting (no easy feat for any location, much less a populous city). Despite only getting one take for the scene, Wang and company made it look like a walk in the park.

At the conclusion of the film, we are treated to actual footage of the real Nai Nai doing her exercises, stating that she has long since outlived her diagnosis and is still alive. Wang revealed in the commentary that this wasn’t meant to be just a fun fact.

The biggest question that the film wrestles with is are we justified in lying to the ones we love? Wang included this footage to drive the point home to the audience and make us wonder the same things she did as she and her family lied to her Nai Nai.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/the-farewell-things-facts-trivia-learned-directors-commentary/

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