A First Farewell

"A First Farewell" is a gorgeously shot window into a world most of us hadn't looked through before, but it's worth examining the meanings of its images.

Beautifully photographed and performed by amazingly talented non-professional child actors, Wang's film is an emotionally rewarding glimpse into challenges faced by this Muslim minority.

A First Farewell offers a subtle yet incisive look at how China's Muslim minority grapples with the pressure to ditch their own culture and conform to the social norms of the day.

From the children’s innocent perspectives of their separation from a dear friend, this film is an essential and emotional viewing experience.

If A First Farewell is Wang's debut, it boggles the mind what her future films hold in store for us.

Wang's down-to-earth tone, familiarity with the subject matter, and success in inspiring natural and sometimes delightful performances from the nonprofessional young cast result in a thoroughly engaging, believable, and quietly moving story.

The daily worries of rural life inform A First Farewell, an intimate and affecting debut from Chinese filmmaker Lina Wan.