I experienced an emotional night at the theatre watching the Thai movie "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies." As the film progressed, I could hear the sounds of sobbing around me. When the lights came on, I sat in my seat, wiped away my tears, and looked around to find many others crying, just like me. This film resonated deeply with us, and I feel compelled to share some of the most touching scenes that left a lasting impression on my heart.
The story's concept is quite straightforward, which might easily result in a predictable and dull encounter. However, this film exemplifies how simplicity, when handled correctly, may result in perfection. It's pleasant to watch a tale unfold naturally, without relying on unnecessary twists and turns. It centres on a young man named M who moves in to take care of his terminally ill grandmother in order to win her inheritance. However, it soon becomes clear that the film is about much more than money—it's about love, family, and the deep connections that define our lives.
One of the most poignant scenes depicts the grandmother living alone in her hometown after her partner's death. Every Sunday, she dresses up and sits on the bench in front of her home, eagerly waiting for her children to visit. Her anticipation and the small rituals she performs highlight her profound loneliness and longing for family connection. Despite her efforts to prolong their visits by suggesting they play cards together, her children always refuse because they are too busy, leaving her disappointed and heartbroken.
This scene struck a chord with me because it underscores a universal truth: as people age, they often revert to a state of childlike simplicity, craving connection and understanding from their loved ones. The grandson's decision to stay with his grandma during her final days, engaging in everyday activities like selling porridge, playing cards, and chatting, provides her with the warmth and companionship she so desperately desires. This seemingly ordinary time becomes the most precious and fulfilling period of her life.
The movie also explores the complexities of familial love and the challenges of fairly distributing affection and resources. Grandma always does her best to help children in need, but she doesn't know how to "fairly" distribute love to all her children and grandchildren, which causes the children to feel "unfair." What grandma experienced was the era of patriarchy, where men were superior to women. When grandma asked her brother to borrow 1 million to buy a Feng Shui cemetery, she was severely rejected. From this plot, we can understand that my grandma’s parents also left all their property to her brother, but as a woman, she did not get any property. In her worldview, leaving property to her son is a matter of course. But this does not mean that grandma loves her daughter less. Grandma said to her daughter: "I don't know who I love the most, but among the three children, I want to stay with you the most."
We often unintentionally link money and love, thinking that if you love me, you should give me money. If you don't give me money, it means you don't love me, which means I'm not important. But grandma showed love in a different way. In addition to praying for the whole family, she even put down her dignity and borrowed money from her brother to buy a cemetery. She only hoped that after her death, she could bring prosperity to future generations, and also hoped that the children would have a comfortable and clean place to reunite when the grave was visited every year.
Grandma actually loves them all.
The grandson in the movie is constantly testing his standing in the eyes of his grandma. Because he felt that his grandma had not given him any property, he thought that his status in her heart was very low, so he angrily scolded his grandma for giving his property to his most useless son, even though he took good care of her. The grandma who was scolded by her grandson cried sadly. We all hope that we can occupy an important position in the minds of others. Especially when there is only one mother and many children, maternal love becomes a scarce resource and inadvertently creates competition between siblings. When we were young, we fought for favour. When we grow up, we strive for money and possessions, which we mistake for “love.”
So, who ranks first in grandma's heart? In fact, grandma herself doesn’t know, because she loves every child and grandchild. Each one has a special place in her heart, and there is no particular order.
There was a scene where the grandma picked the fruit and gave it to her grandson, telling him that she had promised that if the pomegranate tree bore fruit, she could only leave it to her grandson, and even the son to whom she left her property could not touch the tree. This small gesture symbolized a promise and a special connection that transcended material possessions.
The scene that moved me the most was when my grandson and children sent grandma off for the last journey. As he knocked on her coffin, he declared she was first in his heart. This moment of realization and release from his obsession with ranking reflected a deep emotional growth. He finally understood that what mattered was not the position he held but the special place he occupied in her heart.
A good movie not only moves us but also prompts us to reflect on our own lives. "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" is one such film. It may be labelled a commercial film with a seemingly familiar plot, but its ability to evoke tears and touch hearts lies in its resonance with universal themes of love, loss, and family.
As we left the theatre, many of us carried with us the reminder of our own family bonds. For some, it brought back memories of loved ones we've lost. For others, it highlighted the importance of cherishing those still with us. If this film stirs in you a recollection of a kind elder, take it as a nudge to spend time with them, to listen, and to simply be present. Because, in the end, it’s these moments of companionship that are our greatest treasures.
Felicia Yoan is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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