Thailand's Ambassador to China, Chatchai Viriyavejakul, led officials from the Royal Thai Embassy in China in a dedicated screening of How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, a hit Thai drama film, in Beijing on August 18.

Officials from the Royal Thai Embassy in China at the cinema Photo: Courtesy of the Royal Thai Embassy in China

The popular Thai comedy-drama film tells the story of a man who quits his job to care for his dying grandmother. Motivated by her fortune, he schemes to win her favor before she passes.

The ambassador said that the movie is a very warm and touching cinematic work. It also resonated with him. He said that more Thai films are expected to be released in China to further enhance cultural exchanges between the two peoples in China and Thailand.

The film opens on the last phase of life of the terminally ill grandmother, telling the story of three generations of a Chaoshan (or Chaozhou and Shantou in Guangdong) immigrant family in Thailand. It presents a typical Chinese-style family relationship, showing the pain points of Southeast Asian families on the big screen. With a tidal wave of tears, the movie triggers the audience's reflections on life. Due to a shared cultural background, the customized screening sessions before the official debut have attracted much attention at more than 1,000 theaters in 30 cities across China. The bittersweet tale of ambition, love, and the complexities of family dynamics will be officially released nationwide on August 23.