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.

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.