THE FAREWELL + FOR SAMA | feat. Lulu Wang

In this episode, we talk about the film that has smashed even Avengers Endgame's box office record, Lulu Wang's The Farewell. Plus, we talk to the director all about her film.

First up though, is For Sama. When the Arab Spring came to Syria in 2012, Waad al-Kateab picked up her camera and began filming the revolution. For five years, under Assad’s brutal assault, she kept filming. For Sama captures that journey, as she marries her partner Hamza al-Kateab, and gives birth to her daughter Sama. The film becomes a justification to their daughter of why they remained in a war zone, capturing not just the daily assaults Hamza faces as a frontline doctor, but also the joys, passions and quiet moments of their friends and family.

In The Farewell, Billi (Awkwafina) is called back from New York to her native China because her beloved grandmother is facing her last days. Yet, in accordance with tradition, this news is kept from the matriarch herself. Keeping up the pretence of a family wedding while reconnecting and grieving, we follow Billi on a funny, deeply moving exploration of the meaning of home and family.

Discussing the films this week are Jake Cunningham, Kelly Powell, Steven Ryder and Sam Howlett.

Follow the team on Social Media:

@jakehcunningham - Jake

@ks_powell - Kelly

@irma_pep - Steven

@samhowlett_1 - Sam

Produced by Jake Cunningham

Edited by Mark Towers

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