AFI FEST 2020 | Director Ekwa Msangi Tackles Family Drama In A Refreshingly Unique Way In "Farewell Amor"
12/12 ForReel Score | 5/5 Stars
Do you remember what you were doing 17 years ago? The things you prioritized then? The kind of person you were? It’s easy to imagine how a lot can change in nearly two decades. That’s where the story in Farewell Amor picks up - in an airport where an immigrant family that’s been separated for 17 years begins to try and reassemble their life together. As they soon realize though, the reunion isn’t as simple as they expected, and director Ekwa Msangi does an impeccable job of bringing these human stories to life with riveting authenticity.
The film is broken up into three parts - one for each of the three family members at the center of this story. Walter (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), the father and husband in this story, is the one who left Angola to establish a better life for the family in New York. Esther - mother and wife played by Zainab Jah - has developed strong religious convictions and clings tightly to her traditional beliefs and lifestyle. And Sylvia (Jayme Lawson, who is slated to make a minor appearance in Matt Reeves’ The Batman) is the daughter caught in this major life transition while also trying to fit in at a new school and pursue her interest in dancing.
It’s a strikingly intimate story; intimate in how close this family wants to be with each other and in the scope of the narrative’s conflicts. There is a lot happening in each character’s life as their inherent interests and lifestyles seem to be wedging them apart. Even though this scenario doesn’t feel right as Walter, Esther, and Sylvia engage with each other like the same ends of a magnet, no one is necessarily wrong. Ekwa is able to tell this story with a keen sense of empathy for each of their point of views, and while there aren’t necessarily any dramatic inciting events, there is a clever stitching together of each character’s perspective that keeps viewers hanging on every moment that unfolds.
Those characters, by the way, are played by an extraordinarily talented cast. Ntare, Zainab, and Jayme navigates their individual internal conflicts perfectly, yet also manages the uncomfortable and often contentious relationships with each other with riveting gravity in their performances. Even the supporting casts - Joie Lee as Nzingha, a neighbor who befriends Esther; Nana Mensah as Linda, Walter’s former romantic interest; and Marcus Scribner (Black-ish) as DJ, Sylvia’s schoolmate and new friend - all play their roles well in supporting these main characters.
Farewell Amor utilizes all of these relationships to deliver a special and moving family drama film. At a time in our country when immigration is a contentious topic and minority stories are more important than ever, Farewell Amor stands out as an extraordinary piece of filmmaking and storytelling. With the incredible skill that Ekwa demonstrates in this production, its easy to strongly recommend people experience Farewell Amor and easier yet to look forward to whatever feature film she makes next - something I hope happens sooner than 17 years.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 2 | Reviewer's Preference - 2 | What does this mean?
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