english scenes

TITLE SCREEN – LIES AND DECEPTION

English Title (“the farewell) – superimposed (on top) of Chinese title LITERAL meaning   -> “don’t tell her” WHY = foreshadows secrecy on Nai Nai’s condition AND vague English title obscures the truth in the Chinese title

FIRST FAMILY DINNER IN CHINA– LIES, DECEPTION AND TRUTH

HAO HAO – speaks after pause = hesitance, does not speak up over elders CULTURAL VALUES/BELIEFS + obscured face WITH over the shoulder shots – AVOIDANCE

Intergenerational conflict – big wedding. HAO HAO: “We don’t need a big banquet” speaking slowly WHICH contrasts with Nai Nai’s quicker words à reveals a difference in interaction/behaving ALSO Hao Hao’s lack of a demanding gaze REVEALS shying away from traditions, hiding something, lack of confidence

EVIDENCE:

1.      Haiyan’s American upbringing and judgement from family + (conflicts) individualism versus collectivism;

2.      Little Nai Nai’s judgmental facial expression when Haiyan talks about his American upbringing: HIS choice, SHE impacted by filial piety, judgment on cultural values (conflicting/contradictory/opposite);

3.      Absence of sound when the shot cuts to Haiyan’s face: friction between values – creates a sense of awkwardness

CHINESE CULTURE – COLLECTIVISTIC, AMERICAN CULTURE – INDIVIDUALISTIC = creates conflict/contrasts with those who hold different values. ESPECIALLY – to lie or not to lie

EVIDENCE:

1.      contrast/juxtaposition of Nai Nai laughing WITH the collective silence of other family members;

2.      Over-the-shoulder shots of individual family portraits: each individual family member has their own unique views

3.      “My only grandson’s getting married, we must have face”à symbolic (SYMBOLISM) meaning of “face” and the importance of it within traditional Chinese culture

BILLI FINDS OUT – FAMILY AND CULTURE

Over the shoulder shot EMPHASIZES that we are listening in on a private conversation, curtains are closed SYMBOLIZING the diagnosis will be hushed up, the decision has already been made by elder family members, cultural divide in the family and Billi’s inability to intervene SHOWS at the lie is not casual — it is a deeply rooted act of love, duty, and collective responsibility.

EVIDENCE:

1.      REPETITION of “you can’t do that” by Billi’s father/Haiyen EMPHASIZES cultural divide

INTRODUCTION TO BILLI AND HER FELLOWSHIP

Living in America for her own goals/dreams (Guggenheim fellowship)

EVIDENCE:

1.      Close-up shot: to capture the detail of what’s being written to foreshadow (the later burden that she withholds from parents) the importance of individualistic desires and behaviours in the film

2.      High angle: to make it seem as though we are looking through Billi’s eyes to see her perspective and feel the weight of the rejection

UNCLE TELLS BILLI NOT TO TELL NAI NAI – FAMILY AND CULTURE

Respect for the wishes of the culture as Billi is listening to the uncle’s/family’s wishes. Back to the camera body position: hiding from the truth, not wanting to face the truth!

FAMILY DINNER TALKING ABOUT WEDDING PREPARATIONS – FAMILY AND CULTURE

Full front body position: shows the openness/authenticity of Haiyan’s wish to show care for his mother

Over the shoulder shot: to show the distance between Haiyan and his brother and their mother, which prompts Haiyan to want to show care for his mother

7. BEFORE THE WEDDING, THE FAMILY IS AT A MASSAGE PARLOUR, AND HAIYAN ASKS IF BILLI NEEDS MONEY – INTERGENERATIONAL CONFLICT, FAMILY AND CULTURE

Upset and grim facial expressions (E.g. Billi’s pouted lips) + Full front body position yet faces are turned away from each other: awkwardness of the question about Billi’s financial situation, perhaps due to the role reversal of Billi needing to be the one to provide/care for family (filial piety)

EVIDENCE:

1.      Lack of non-diegetic sound ELEVATES the awkwardness and the tension between these two characters/generations

2.      traditionally Chinese furniture and wallpaper in the background REFLECTS the traditional Chinese background/values that are influencing these two characters

3.      Symbolism of the vibrancy of the colours CREATES a stark contrast to the grim and solemn emotions experienced to amplify the awkwardness

FAMILY IS WAITING FOR NAI NAI’S RESULTS IN THE HOSPITAL - INTERGENERATIONAL CONFLICT, INDIVIDUALISM VERSUS COLLECTIVISM (FAMILY AND CULTURE)

EVIDENCE:

1.      Haiyan’s position in the foreground and his elevated position ASSERTS his power, his authority comes from his belief in his idea of morality

2.      Little Nai Nai’s nonchalant body position slouched on the chair SHOWS how firm she is in her belief that this is the moral decision

3.      Fakeness of the painting in the background REFLECTS the lie (fakeness/inauthenticity of the lie)

PAYING RESPECTS TO BILLI’S GRANDFATHER – FAMILY AND CULTURE

Family is going to the grave out of respect for their ancestors and to wish for their blessing.

EVIDENCE:

1.      Extreme long shot CAPTURES the whole cemetery and the sheer amount of graves to show how many other families similarly follow the same rules of respect; shows the size of Billi’s family and how everyone is there to pay their respects

AFTER THE DRINKING GAME AT THE WEDDING AND THE FAMILY IS TAKING A FAMILY PHOTO

EVIDENCE:

1.      Close-up shot concerned/distressed/happy/pleased facial expression: different generational opinions

2.      Eye contact between characters: secret communication between family members and the maintenance of the secret

3.      Nai Nai’s demanding gaze: she’s still able to face “her truth” as she is the only one not in on the secret

4.      Other characters’ offer gazes: not willing to face the truth

5.      Symbolism of curtain in the background: the act of hiding, the act of performance

6.      Position of other family members’ faces above Nai Nai’s face: looking down on her/caring for her/protecting her