This review may contain spoilers
Cried basically the second half without a stop
What a beautiful movie. I'm writing this review as my tears dry on my cheeks. I felt like this movie especially resonated if you are Southeast Asian. It felt so realistic, the homes so lived in, as if we really were seeing a part of these people's lives and not a film set. The story is heart-wrenching, at some point I'm not even sure anymore why I'm crying, but the tears kept coming. I wasn't sure if I was crying out of sadness or happiness.The movie shows how, sometimes, it's in the quiet and non obvious ways that we love.
The acting was great, I was really surprised to find out the actress that played the grandma had her acting debut with this movie! Wow.
The music fit so beautifully, it was such a great movie.
I just rated the rewatch value low because this is the kind of movie that will tear you up completely, but you can't really handle watching it more times.
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A painful yet cathartic experience
This movie hit a little too close to home for me and i believe for many viewers from Asian backgrounds who were raised by their grandparents (for those of you like me, that box of tissues is gonna be more essential than a popcorn). This movie reminded me of my own grandmother's passing and her relationship with her children and grandchildren in those years. She was bedridden for many years before her passing and unlike the main character, was speech impaired, so this movie brought a voice to her experience, a voice i never got to hear.In a similar way, she also bequeathed most of her wealth to her sons although the persons who cared for her most and whom she trusted most were her daughters, because as a parent she worried most about her sons and wanted to ensure that they were self-sufficient, While her actions may have been interpreted as unfair, to her, this was the best decision she could make to have a peace of mind. And she made the decision knowing her daughters may feel betrayed and she may be hated. She was also "passed around" relatives who agreed to care for her often with the hidden agenda of gaining her favour or benefiting from the situation. And because of her speech impairment, I believe there was much she must've wanted to say that she couldn't. The character 'Ahma' finally gave a voice to my grandmother for me.
Seeing such a personal experience portrayed in a work of fiction pained me but at the same time it provided me some form of cathartic relief, particularly the scene in the kitchen between mother and daughter where Ahma tried to comfort her daughter and convey her love despite it all. Parents believe that they love their children to the best of their ability and it's difficult to judge what's right and what isn't. The character designs were well thought out; Mui was a perfect counterfoil to the ML, logical, shrewd and goal-driven while M was more emotionally-driven and struggled with his conscience, his intentions evolving from being driven by self-serving needs to filial piety, love and respect. And Ahma was too real, vulnerable and strong, filled with loneliness that she forced herself to get used to because she feared burdening her children, and giving even when she was left with nothing else to give. Never blaming her children or grandchildren for their actions, and quietly loving them in her own ways, even if they couldn't understand.
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emotional value is this film's selling point
this film's plot is quite simple, but acting and directing ended up pulling on my heart strings. it also made me think of my grandma (who passed away) and how significant role do grandmothers actually play in family dynamics. after finishing the film, i got quite emotional. hopefully, oscar voters see this film's uniqeness in portraying complicated emotions and it scores a nomWas this review helpful to you?
More like "How to make millions of viewers cry before the movie ends"
The intricately personal movie about family dramas, gender and generational disparity among Chinese (and Thai-Chinese) communities, along with several heart-knocking quotes from M and Amah, it hits close to us. It hits close to us.We watch and sob, and then cry, and then crying harder in every development of the story.
Hearing that this movie is shortlisted for the 97th Oscars is a groundbreaking news, but sadly it didn't. I can partly blame to the Oscars themselves and their favoritism towards European cinema, but thinking it was also something that really hits close to Asian people, and without any bridges there will be a gap for non-Asians to learn and understand this kind of family drama, and that's understandable.
However, it's still a little speck of hope that one day Southeast Asian cinema can have its place, and I'm placing my bet on Thailand.
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Cried Twice Because I Was M in Real Life
Altough I kinda think the storyline is kinda basic, but I have to say that the execution, production, deliver, it so well done. I personally dont really like complicated storyline so it makes this movie better.I personally not crying because the story, I cry I because I realize this is what i have been throuh with my granma, Its beatiful and sometimes its sad. Watching this definetly just watching my life back and I realize the moment I had is precious and now I think it does, because not many ppl really have a bond with their elder. Even my own granma doesnt close with her own child except me her granson. She has 4 granchild but I'm the only one who close with her.
Scoring, Cinematography, Estabilish Footages They are telling a story.
I dont know what to say, this movie rent-free in my head forever.
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Two words. Relevant and tearjerker.
This one really hits home for me particularly in the older generation Asian culture for multiple reasons.- The preference for sons has been so deeply ingrained in the system that no matter how despicable sons may have been to themselves and their families, they were always enabled and coddled. Not always out of malice, but because of the inability to remove this embedded and biased attachment. Many women from multiple generations, even in modern times, suffer from feeling lesser than, yet they often end up being the more empathetic ones.
- The older generations, constantly wishing for the younger generations to "live better" than they have, fail to understand that providing children with everything they need to the best of their abilities can also turn them into emotional and financial dependents. To make matters worse, younger generations often have little appreciation and sometimes even blame their elders for not being more successful.
- We all tend to get so caught up in the day-to-day expectations and pressures from multiple aspects of life that it becomes difficult to appreciate the people around us and the as-is situations we are in. And too often by the time we do, it is too late.
I really love the realism and details in the movie. They paid great attention to details and this always make it super special. If this hits home for you, be prepared for not only a moment or two of tears but almost an ongoing river of them.
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beautiful movie that will makes you cry
It's a beautiful story that follows a student and his desperation to make money using his family. At the beginning, it was sad to see how he tried to use his grandmother, but later on… it made my eyes tearful all the time.It reminds me of myself when, as a teenager, I did not visit my grandparents much, but later on, when I was older, I appreciated them, but sometimes it's too late. The movie is a good reminder not to neglect your grandparents if you still have them!
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The Grefg tailandés trata de deshauciar a una anciana de su casa
Ya lo predijo The Greft el plot de esta película : deshauciando a una anciana.Tremendos papeloncios se hacen Usha (no la conocía pero me ha encantado su actuación) y Billkin (este man lo mismo te hace de gay que te hace de nieto youtuber que en principio quiere estafar a su abuela).
Me ha gustado mucho la película aunque se supiera que iba a pasar desde un principio.Las actuaciones han influenciado mucho porque la historia no es que sea el nova más. Me hubiera gustado que profundizasen más en el rollo de trabajar como cuidadores/estafadores para conseguir la herencia, me parecía una idea que se podía haber explotado mejor.
Se me hace poco realista como el nieto se puede manejar tan fácilmente entre los hijos. Vamos es que la madre le deja carta blanca y los dos hermanos entre que uno tiene deudas y el otro está centrado en su familia...
Me parece tierno como la abuela de acuerda y hace todo lo que le pide su nieto, desde el granado hasta lo de la cuenta del banco.
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SIMPLE YET HEART-TOUCHING
I watched this in the cinemas, and one thing I regret is that I didn't bring TISSUES!!!! In each corner of the cinema anyone you see is crying...STORY:
The plot was simple but beautiful, I can't quite tell what I truly feel, but it's a masterpiece.
ACTING:
Everyone acted natural and great, as if it's true— it makes the film more real and heart touching.
REWATCH VALUE:
I WILL TOTALLY REWATCH THIS SOMEDAY. It's just something...
It just makes you realize things, and the more you understand the more you feel it and just exert emotions. LIKE LITERALLY I couldn't stop crying whenever I think about it deeper!!
P.S. When I got out of the cinema I covered my nose with my hands (I looked like Rudolf)
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Extraordinary
I just watched 'Lahn Mah' today, and it's easily one of the best Thai films I've ever seen. There was a lot of fun(Actually, jokes are stunning, I heard many people laugh in the theater), sadness and touching in this film.This movie provided the mood and reality of being in Thai-Chinese families like the scene that throw flowers to the ancestors' graveyard, words that are using or celebrating Chinese New Year. Moreover, the acting was impressive. The reasons why I said that are the emotional depth that Billkin, Grandma and other casts give to understand their own characters. The smooth energy of their interactions throughout the movie creates a genuine familial atmosphere, making it feel like a real family dynamic on screen.
In addition, the inheritance fight among M(the protagonist), M's mom and 2 M's uncle adds another layer of complexity to the narrative which turns out M got the most but before that there's a fight to get the grandma's house and it made a question to the audience that will M get something for taking care of grandma?. This subplot not only adds depth to the characters' motivations but also reflects larger themes of tradition, obligation, and the complexities of family relationships.
On the other hand, it's worth noting that while the film's acting is impressive, the pacing of the proceedings may feel a bit brisk, particularly in terms of character development. Viewers may find themselves wanting more insight into the characters' backstories, especially the childhood experiences that shaped their personalities, or more time to understand the dynamics of their relationships before pivotal events unfold.
To conclude, 'Lahn Mah' is a film that shows both tears and laughter, showcasing heartfelt moments and a deep sense of love and care, especially between M and their grandmother. However, the pacing issues, particularly in character development, leave some room for improvement."
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"Amah, you're my number one."
One scene that stuck with me is when the grandmother seeks help from her wealthy brother, only to be met with indifference, which broke my heart at how success, hard work, and failure can divide families or create unspoken tensions, which reflect inequalities that exist within even the closest bonds. I couldn’t help but think of my brother and hope the both of us never lose sight of having compassion for each other as we age.It captures the bittersweet journey of aging and the richness of a life fully lived, even as it approaches its end. It reminds me of the struggles, joys, and sacrifices that shape a person's life over the years. It’s a poignant reminder that every elderly person has a unique history filled with experiences that deserve to be acknowledged and cherished.
Grandma’s story serves as a gentle reminder that, at the end of the day, success and failure matter far less than the love and care we give each other. It’s those moments of kindness and connection that truly endure.
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This is easily one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen.
The tears started flowing early and didn’t stop until the very end. It reminded me of my grandmother and how much I miss her. I think that’s why it touched me so deeply. One of the film's strengths is how relatable it is. It doesn’t try to force the audience to cry or manipulate emotions; instead, it beautifully portrays the complexities of family relationships and the inevitability of mortality, making it truly impactful.I loved how M and his grandma found their way back to each other, rediscovering their bond and how M came to better understand his family. Those last 20 minutes were some of the most moving I’ve ever watched.
The cast deserves huge praise for bringing these characters to life, especially Billkin and Taew Usha Seamkhum. Their performances added incredible authenticity to the film.
Watching it left me with a renewed appreciation for life’s fleeting moments and the meaning they bring. It’s a movie that will stay with me.
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