Lucky Grandma - A Review

They used to say, and perhaps still do, a "tour de force." The term comes instantly to mind as one is watching LUCKY GRANDMA and the performance of actress Tsai Chin, who plays the title role. I've been aware of Tsai Chin since the sixties when I first saw her in THE FACE OF FU MANCHU. At that time, she was playing as Fu's daughter, named in the series as Lin Tang. She was in five of these films, of which I only saw the first two in a theater. The third, THE VENGEANCE OF FU MANCHU, I must have seen on television later, as I had not seen it when it was shown, without promotion, on the bottom half of a double bill. The last Fu Manchu films were directed by Jess Franco and are some of his worst films, though watchable when Lee or Chin are on screen. I saw Chin in the Bond film YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, but didn't pick up on her and the Fu Manchu connection. She was around later, but did not have any continual presence in American theaters or television shows. But things began to pick up. She published an autobiography in 1988, DAUGHTER OF SHANGHAI, and was the ensemble cast of THE JOY LUCK CLUB in 1993. She was also appeared in Daniel Craig's first Bond film, CASINO ROYALE (2006), becoming one of the rare, non-regular actresses to appear twice in a Bond film, and the only one whose appearance was spread out in many years and for different Bond actors. One almost anticipated that her character in this film, "Madame Wu," would have more of a part, either later on in the film or in the series. Shades of Lin Tang. But that was not to be.

Nowadays, I know much more about her. Researching for my book on Asian actress in America, I am probably one of the few non-Asians who know her history. I have a DVD of THE VIRGIN SOLDERS, and am very much aware of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, which makes a fib of the promotion of CRAZY RICH ASIANS unless the Japanese are not considered Asian. And I have on pre-order the Blu-Ray release of INVASION, a 1965 British sci-fi film she appeared in, along with another Asian actress, Yoko Tani. I will not sing the "Ding-Dong" song, however, and even Chin is probably tired of that one, having popularized it internationally decades ago.

But these days, the talk is of LUCKY GRANDMA. I had to order the Blu-Ray, but I was willing to be somewhat disappointed, having had an experience of seeing some independent, low-budget film. But my disappointment was not there once I started watching the film. Though it is labelled a "black comedy"or a "dark comedy," I would not hover around that term. The film becomes more and more serious, leading up to a climax that, for Chin, is the best thing acting-wise she had done.

Evey frame speaks of talent and care, in front of the screen and in back. The acting includes not only Chin, but the other Asian actors and actresses. (For this film there is no Occidental presence aside from an "Atlantic City" casino sequence, and, therefore, the possibility for an ethnic statement is not there.) Not only is the film one of the few independent Asian films in the States, but it also focuses completely on seniorhood that is not financially popular. While I don't know an Asian grandma like Lucky Grandma, nor would I, the character seems very real--to a point. I suspect that parts of Lucky Grandma's expression are quite normal for Tsai Chin. When she smiles (rarely in this film), I saw the same smile in photos and clips decades old. Few will be transported back to a young Tsai Chin, but I was in these instances.

I don't know if this film is eligible for an Oscar. Though it has a copyright date of 2019, the film was streamed this year because of the Covid pandemic. What I do know is that, if the film is eligible, I would not be at all surprised if there was an Oscar nomination for Tsai Chin. 

 

 

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Good Deed Entertainment Website for LUCKY GRANDMA