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I saw an exclusive preview of How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies courtesy of Milk Tea Films and Juniper by the Sea bookshop.

Death and grief in ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) cultures are traditionally taboo and often unspoken topics. Speaking about them is often considered unlucky and concealing one’s mental health is all too common. This is in contrast to the fact that some people stick to cultural traditions such as praying to ancestors and believing in ghosts and spirits.

Thai film (with dialogue in Teochew Chinese dialect and Thai) How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is an emotional and moving story that addresses these issues alongside the ideals of familial piety, unconditional love, greed, sibling rivalry and family secrecy. Set in the Talat Phlu area of Thailand near Bangkok, its plot centres around “M”, a university dropout who seems to not do much more than sit at home playing video games, and the relationship he has with his elderly Amah (maternal grandma).

When M sees that his cousin Mui is the primary caregiver of his paternal grandfather and she inherits his estate upon his death much to other people’s chagrin, he envisions this as an opportunity to replicate this scheme with his Amah. He begins trying to curry favour with her by moving in with her, helping with chores and taking her to places such as the market stall where she sells congee. The premise of this on its own alongside the film’s title sounds like a comedic and troublesome heist, but it’s deeper than that (but there is still comedy!). Initially sceptical of M and reluctant to accept his help as she sees him as qi-chou (basically a good for nothing), Amah soon comes to appreciate his presence as he in turn comes to like looking after her.

But poor Amah has been diagnosed with cancer that the family wants to keep from her, which is something that is common among Asian families (similar to The Farewell) but M discloses it to her. What ensues is Amah’s three children trying to compete with each other for their mother’s affection, which she and M find suspicious. But of course M has his agenda too. Does he change his mind or does he just see his mother and two uncles as competition vying for the largest share of Amah’s life savings and house?

What is so brilliant about How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is the way in which family dynamics are played out and changed. M’s journey as a person winds its way round and back and forth as he struggles with appeasing his particular and independent Amah, especially when at first they show little love for each other, and his conscience and morals. Additionally, you wonder what goes through Amah’s mind as she seems fully aware of other people’s true motives yet her unyielding nature as a mother and carer doesn’t make her disown them and makes her more resistant to being cared for in return until she soon becomes too fragile and has no choice but to be looked after 24/7.

And this is what I like about dramas centred around families; they are unpredictable rollercoasters whereby you may never know what someone’s true intentions are or what will transpire and as connections between members are questioned and tested, making for often intriguing watching. While many might see How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies as just a film about death and grief that portrays ways in which different people cope with it, I found it to be more than that; a reminder of times long forgotten as people grow up and drift apart that bring them back together. Amah constantly talks to her children and M about when they were little, of which they often have no memory. This is more poignant at the end of the film whereby her passing is of course sad, but a forgotten memory makes the future clearer and honours her rather than dwells on the fact she has gone.

Props must be paid to Pat Boonnitipat in his film directorial debut and stars Putthipong Assaratanakul and Usha Seamkhum as M and his Amah, the former of which this was his first major film role and the latter of which had never acted before. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is a film I recommend seeing to bow out 2024 and will likely be very relatable to people from ESEA cultures – no wonder it is doing so well in Southeast Asia – but is one that will strike a chord with anyone who has had to navigate conversations of life and death, as well as connecting with, celebrating and mourning loved ones.

For me, personally, it reminded me of the father’s family and the dynamics at play there when my grandma – whose appearance very much resembles Amah’s in the film – was ill. Various family members were more willing to step up while others much less so. And for what reasons on both sides? Back then I never really thought about it, but it certainly makes me reflect back and ponder now…

Rating: 5/5

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is now available to watch on Netflix in the UK.