There’s an inevitability that whenever a non-English-language film proves a notable crossover hit internationally, talk of a Hollywood redo will soon arise. In recent years, an American-set remake of horror Train to Busan is just one of several notable projects caught up in staggered development without making it to camera, despite the United States’ train infrastructure being a questionable fit for that particular film’s setup. It’s a hackneyed thing to say but the international films that cross over, to a level that attracts Hollywood producers, do so because the cultural specifics of their storytelling ultimately tap into something universal.
That said, it’s interesting that some of the more successful English-language remakes of recent years – commercially or with awards bodies – have been those adapting films with fairly broad premises in the first place, where the template for even a half-competent translation is already there. While not reaching the over $400 million worldwide gross of French film The Intouchables (released as Untouchable in the UK), American remake The Upside still banked over $100 million upon release in early 2019.
And then there’s Belgian dramedy La Famille Bélier being remade as the most puzzling Oscars titan of late, CODA. A similar awards-bait remake fate may befall How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, a Thai film that’s become an unprecedented commercial success in Asian markets. For much of director Pat Boonnitipat’s debut feature, you can spot all the ways in which this story could so easily be translated to many other territories, particularly the United States.
In this case, however, it’s not that it’s a formulaic tale that comes across like a deliberate ploy to tempt investors in international film markets. Far from it, though there are certainly some telegraphed elements of predictability in this accomplished weepie. After an extended family member dies following a long, debilitating illness, twentysomething slacker ‘M’ (Putthipong Assaratanakul) learns that his medical student cousin Mui (Tontawan Tantivejakul) has scored most of the old man’s multimillion-dollar inheritance, having been his primary carer.
When he learns of a bleak cancer diagnosis for his somewhat estranged grandmother (Usha Seamkhum, a wonder in her film debut) that the elderly woman doesn’t yet know about, M sees an opportunity to improve his prospects by becoming the world’s most devoted grandson. Grandma proves exceedingly tough to please, though M also learns he’s not the only opportunist gunning for the inheritance. And Amah is by no means as clueless as her kin seem to think.
Alongside beautifully-judged performances and management of a tricky tone, Boonnitipat and Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn’s sentimental but never saccharine screenplay nails something true and relatable about all the complicated responses we can have to the likely death of family – some of which may disgust us, though they stem from questions that naturally arise amid the practicalities of preparing for the worst. A bond that initially starts from a place of greed can still transform into something genuinely enriching beyond material gains. To paraphrase advice that cousin Mui gives M, all time given to loved ones is time well spent.
ANTICIPATION.
Thai megahit that’s also the country’s Oscars entry.
3
ENJOYMENT.
Touching, funny, see it before the inevitable Hollywood remake.
4
IN RETROSPECT.
A beautifully-judged and performed dramedy that’s sentimental without ever being saccharine.
4
Directed by
Pat Boonnitipat
Starring
Billkin,
Usha Seamkhum,
Sarinrat Thomas
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