Farewell China

Set in 1988, the film captures the late-80s context of global migration and shifting urban landscapes. It portrays the realities of visa struggles, work-permit obstacles, and the hope of permanent residency in the United States. The era heightens tensions around language, assimilation, and the emotional cost of leaving family behind.

Li Hong leaves Shawan Village in Panyu, Guangzhou, beginning a cross-border odyssey toward New York City. The journey traverses Guangzhou’s urban streets, Harlem’s tenements, and a perilous transit through Panama, reflecting disparate settings of immigrant life. These locations together illuminate the challenges of diaspora: language barriers, precarious work, and the pull of family across oceans.

🧭 Migration

The film follows Li Hong’s decision to leave her homeland for a promised future in the United States, highlighting the hope and desperation that drive cross-border moves. It portrays the strain of maintaining ties with family while building a new life in unfamiliar cities. Across Guangzhou, Panama, and New York, migration is both an opportunity and a challenge that reshapes identity.

🪪 Identity

Language barriers and changing social roles push Li Hong to redefine who she is across two countries. Her transition from Cantonese to English exposes how language shapes perception and belonging. The film also explores how immigration reshapes self-image amid prejudice and cultural expectations.

💔 Family

The separation between Li Hong and her infant son sets up a persistent emotional cost of diaspora. Zhao Nansheng’s pursuit of a new life leads to moral compromises that strain their relationship. The story culminates in a fragile, ambiguous reunion that underscores the fragility of family bonds across borders.