A short review of a film from the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival 2019 – Lucky Grandma – a widow gets into some comic capers, when she steals from the mob.
Lucky Grandma
Friday, 4th October 2019 (evening)
Presented with the usual telephone directory of films to choose from at this year’s BFI London Film Festival, my partner and I were immediately drawn to Lucky Grandma and the comic potential of a film about an elderly widow who inadvertently steals from the Chinese mob, then takes on the gangs in order to secure her fortune.
Bolstered by her fortune teller, widowed Grandma Wong looks forward to her regular casino trip, only to see her promised luck fail her – her entire life savings in gambling chips being swiftly clawed away. On the bus home, the man sat next to her suffers a fatal heart attack and she is astonished to find that his bag is stuffed full of cash. Thinking he will no longer miss it, she hurries away with the money, only to find that the New York Chinese mob would quite like it back!
It is lovely to see Chinatown depicted in all its grubby realness, rather than the usual Hollywood-sanitised, neon-version. This is mainly down to first-time writer-director Sasie Sealy who, judging from the panel after the screening, had a great affinity for the area and a wonderful rapport with her star. Indeed, 86 year-old, Tsai Chin (The Joy Luck Club), seems to have had a wonderful time as the chain-smoking heroine.
I was at Secret Cinema’s Casino Royale a few weeks ago and I did find myself wondering who the enigmatic Chinese lady was at the gambling table – it turns out it was Tsai Chin! In this film, her character is still gambling-obsessed but her story, in which she learns what it really means to be lucky, is one, which I think everyone will enjoy.
Much of the humour of the film comes from Wong’s relationship with a giant of a bodyguard, whom she pays to watch out for her. Big Pong (Hsiao-yuan Ha) might start out as a hired thug but he comes to care for his unusual charge. Pong almost steals the show but Grandma’s world weariness ultimately wins our heart.
Unusual and funny, this Lucky Grandma is worth seeking out.
after the screening
Dir Sasie Sealy
Prod Cara Marcous, Krista Parris
Scr Angela Cheng, Sasie Sealy
With Tsai Chin, Corey Ha, Michael Tow
USA
2019
87min
Sales XYZ Films