“How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” will leave you wrecked big time
Despite anticipating an emotional rollercoaster, especially given my close bond with my grandmother, I felt compelled to watch “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” due to the significant buzz surrounding the film.
This film isn’t filled with intense, Hollywood-esque moments. Instead, it’s simple and straightforward but incredibly powerful. It doesn’t just drive a point home; it shows you life itself.
Set within a familiar Asian household, the film revolves around a matriarch and her three children, embodying the stereotypical roles often found in such families: the successful eldest, the dutiful middle child, and the carefree, seemingly aimless youngest. This dynamic paints a vivid picture of familial relationships and cultural nuances, particularly the reluctance to share bad news to protect a loved one and a mother’s enduring efforts to support her children, even when it means enabling their flaws.
However, the film also tackles a more universal issue: inheritance. Who should receive it? The dutiful caretaker or the eldest who traditionally has the right? It explores the entitlement felt by children today, viewing their elders as a financial safety net, a stark contrast to how parents once looked to their children for the same kind of support. This shift underscores the increasing difficulties faced by today’s generation in a challenging economy.
The film’s strength lies in its raw, real storytelling. The tenderness among the characters practically leaps off the screen. Without complex dialogue or flashy visual effects, it portrays the characters’ mundane lives in a way that creates a powerful, resonant experience. All grandparents want is love in the form of time and attention. Often taken for granted, these seemingly simple gestures have a profound effect on them; they live for these moments now.
One of the main arcs in the film is that of M, the grandson who initially cares for his grandmother with ulterior motives. His transformation from a self-interested young man to a genuinely caring grandson is heartwarming. His journey is marked by poignant moments, such as moving his grandmother out of a nursing home and refusing a monetary offer from his uncle in recognition of his care. In the end, his selflessness is beautifully underscored when he uses the money his grandmother saved for him to fulfill her final wish for a better burial plot, ensuring her family’s future prosperity.
While I expected to cry, the emotional impact still crept up on me. The scenes of the grandmother waiting for family visits, sitting on a bench outside her home, or her sorrowful declaration to M that she has nothing more to give, are heart-wrenching. For anyone close to their grandparents, or even those who aren’t, this film will leave you wrecked.
“How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” is a testament to the power of understated storytelling. It captures the complexities of familial love and duty with authenticity and grace, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate films that speak to the heart. Be prepared to leave the cinema deeply moved by its honest portrayal of love, loss, and the bonds that tie a family together.
