The APAHM Project Day 8: Lucky Grandma
- Lauren
- May 8
- 4 min read
Film: Lucky Grandma
Directed By: Sasie Sealy
Release: 2019
Where to Watch: Tubi, Roku TV, Kanopy, Pluto
Why It Made The List:
While Tsai Chin has had an impressive resume (The Joy Luck Club, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Memoirs of a Geisha), most of her roles have been side characters and/or mother figures. In Lucky Grandma, Chin is undoubtedly the star of her own story. Written and directed by Sasie Sealy, Lucky Grandma premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and received glowing reviews.
My Thoughts:
Chin stars as Grandma in Sealy's directorial debut. Grandma seeks out a fortune teller who informs her she is going to be very lucky on October 28. Grandma goes to the bank to withdraw all her savings and is presented with bags of rice for being the bank's 88th customer. Grandma goes to the casinos on a charter bus full of other Chinese elders and wins big at roulette. She continues to play various games until she hits double 4's at Blackjack. Losing everything, Grandma gets back on the bus as everyone around her falls asleep. The man next to her keeps leaning on her shoulder, and Grandma checks to see if he is breathing. The old man dies from a heart attack and his duffel full of money falls from the overhead bin and onto Grandma's lap. Grandma takes the money and never tells anyone about the man's passing.
The money ends up belonging to a gang and an opposing gang suspects and follows Grandma around New York Chinatown. Grandma hires a bodyguard, Big Pong, to protect her and continues to deny she has the money. It is only until after her grandson is kidnapped for ransom, that Grandma agrees to meet with the gang. She presents a decoy duffel and chaos ensues. Rescuing her grandson and being shot, Grandma decides living an unexciting and boring life with her son in the suburbs isn't the worst idea after all.
Sealy got her start in writing and acting from a sketch comedy troupe. After her feature directorial debut, she was listed as one of the next filmmakers to watch. She has also directed shorts that have been shown at the Smithsonian Institute and the Tribeca Film Festival. This led to her fellowship with HBO for their directors program and she earned a DGA nomination in 2016. She also works in the commercial space, directing marketing ads for major brands.
Chin is an author, director, and teacher in addition to being an actress. The daughter of Zhou Xinfang, one of China's greatest actors, she was the first Chinese student to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art London and also earned a Master degree from Tufts University. While most of her highly notable works are in China, Chin was also a Bond girl in You Only Live Twice and Casino Royale. She also portrayed Suzie Wong in The World of Suzie Wong on London's West End, after declining a role in Flower Drum Song. It seems Chin has always been a leading lady, and it is so great to see her continue in that role in the United States as well. With her notable role of Auntie Lindo (Waverly's mother who makes a great steamed fish), Chin became a Chinese icon among Asian Americans in the 1990s.
Since Crazy Rich Asians in 2018, we have seen 3 of the 4 mothers from The Joy Luck Club in roles in big Hollywood movies such as Lisa Lu in Crazy Rich Asians and Kieu Chinh in "The Sympathizer" series. And from a quick IMDb search, you can tell these women are mothers and grandmothers. Maybe they had a few lines or a handful of scenes. Chin herself has played quite a few grandmothers too. But in Lucky Grandma the movie is about her. She is number 1 on the call sheet. She is not simply in this movie because she's one of four older Chinese women from the one Hollywood movie with an almost all-Asian cast. Chin is given the freedom and space to be a chain-smoking, gambling, cussing, clever grandmother who still has plenty of love towards her family. She is not a background character who is there to spread wisdom or superstition while cooking food or being told "times are different now, grandma." Sealy created a character and voice to break the stereotype of cute, lai see-giving grandma and Chin brought her to life.
In Conclusion:
Lucky Grandma didn't have the most thrill-seeking, complicated plot, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Seeing Chin be a, forgive my French, ballsy Grandma was a refreshing concept that made for an entertaining story. I also loved that the Snakehead (gang leader) was also a woman. Sister Fong was intimidating yet elegant. Lulu Wang's The Farewell came out the same year as Lucky Grandma. For these Asian American women writers/directors to choose the same protagonist on opposite ends of the spectrum in the same year proves that Asian Americans are not all the same. Neither grandmother had a "tragic" immigrant backstory, the same overdone plot that Hollywood seems to deem worthy of wide audiences. Both women chose to live life to the fullest, despite the consequences. Both grandmothers wanted to be better for their grandchildren. Sealy's film does a great job of widening the lens in which the Chinese matriarch is often seen in.
Shout Out!
Today's shout out goes to food blogger Tiffy Cooks! Anytime one of of Tiffy's videos pops up on my YouTube or Instagram, I'm salivating. I have tried a few of her recipes in the past and can attest they are delicious and easy to follow! Tiffy has a cookbook Tiffy Cooks: 88 Easy Asian Recipes from My Family to Yours that is available wherever books are sold!
If You Liked This, You Might Also Like:
The Brothers Sun
It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World
Better Luck Tomorrow
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