Already causing tear-stained hysteria in cinemas across Southeast Asia, “How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies” is a Thai blockbuster from television director Pat Boonnitipat. The film centers on a Chinese-Thai family of predatory relatives who begin circling their aging Amah after she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Pop idol and star of “My Ambulance,” Putthipong Assaratanakul, better known as Billkin, plays M, a college dropout who volunteers to move in with his grandmother, hoping to become the primary beneficiary of her will. However, it is first-time actress Usha Seamkhum who truly steals the show as the determined septuagenarian matriarch. Inspired by his cousin, who inherited a small fortune from her grandfather, M becomes Amah’s primary caregiver, despite her efforts to maintain an active daily routine.
M’s decision raises immediate suspicion among his mother and her siblings, prompting them to reinsert themselves into their mother’s life after years of absence. Initially resistant, Amah gradually warms to her grandson’s company as her condition deteriorates.
The family’s Chinese heritage adds an extra layer of complexity to the drama, with regional beliefs, traditions, and rituals amplifying the already chaotic situation. A significant plot point is the family’s decision to keep Amah unaware of the severity of her condition. The children’s primary interest is in obtaining the deeds to Amah’s house in Bangkok’s Talat Phlu Chinatown district.
The cast delivers strong performances, but the characters remain uniformly loathsome. Elder son Kiang (Sanya Kunakorn), M’s mother Chew (Sarinrat Thomas), and their deadbeat younger brother Soei (Pongsatorn Jongwilas) clash repeatedly in their insincere efforts to prove themselves the most doting child, only exposing their own selfishness. Even M is firm in demanding a generous handout for his considerable efforts.
The only beacon of humanity in this morally questionable ensemble is Amah, who, despite feigning ignorance, secretly sees her children for who they truly are and manages to love and accept them despite their flaws. Usha is absolutely sensational as the resilient matriarch, who retains a world-weary wit regardless of her bleak condition. Her defiant pragmatism provides genuine laughs amidst the tears, leading to the film’s inevitably tragic yet warm-hearted finale.
“How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies” masterfully balances humor and heartbreak, offering a poignant portrayal of familial bonds and the complexities of inheritance, making it a must-watch film.
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