The movie titled “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies,” which made Thailand’s first entry into the Oscars’ international feature film shortlist, is a comedy-drama that thrives on family-related conflicts, according to its director Pat Boonnitipat. Boonnitipat, a seasoned TV director venturing into features for the first time with this film, attributes the movie’s success at the box office and its ability to resonate universally to a deep understanding of his own familial dynamics and an intense focus on character development.
According to Boonnitipat, a significant portion of writing the script and even during the entire pre-production phase was dedicated to creating well-rounded characters. While the storyline itself might be straightforward, it’s the unique perspectives from which we view each character that truly makes a difference.
The movie centers around M, a young man with limited professional opportunities (played by Putthipong Assaratanakul, also known as Billkin), who decides to live with his grandmother, Usha Seamkhum, after she receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. Initially driven by somewhat selfish reasons, M’s intentions are not significantly worse than those of his family members. Remarkably, despite M’s ulterior motives, the two develop a warm and sincere bond that transcends their age difference.
The film’s Thai title “Lahn Mah” translates as “Grandma’s Grandson.”
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, screenwriters Boonitipat and Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn spent over two years brainstorming their script through lengthy phone calls about their respective families. However, the final draft didn’t meet their expectations, so Boonnitipat moved in with his real-life grandmother for several months. This living arrangement led to the project transitioning from a straight comedy into a comedy-drama.
Boonnitipat found humor in the clashes between his personality and that of his grandmother, as well as other family members. The film, titled “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies,” was released in April and became an instant success in Thailand, breaking box office records for a Thai film throughout much of Southeast Asia.
The film grossed over $10 million in Thailand, $14.8 million in mainland China, and smaller amounts in North America ($309,000) and the U.K. The global total has reached $73 million, according to producer GDH 559.
The early success in Asia was attributed to several factors such as emotional TikTok videos, Billkin’s celebrity, and appreciation for Thai-Chinese and Teochew cultural references. However, Boonitipat attributes the film’s success not to cultural specificity but to the universal theme of changing family structures.
“Grandma” deals with intergenerational conflict, but also explores dysfunctional sibling relationships, societal roles, and paternalism within families. According to Boonitipat, every day is a conflict, but these clashes ultimately become the charm of the story.
While he was required by GDH to make an abstract pitch to external investors about the film’s societal observations, he chose not to explain this to the actors. Instead, he wanted them to immerse themselves in the situation and connect with each other genuinely. The cast became very close off-screen, which Boonitipat believes contributed to the film’s natural performance.
“How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” was released theatrically by Well Go USA on September 13. It is now available across digital platforms and in both Blu-ray and DVD formats, with the home entertainment window opening in mid-December.
International rights are handled by Singapore-based Mokster Films.
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2025-01-09 19:17