Space and Story in How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

When 'home' is not just a place to live but also a reflection of the 'identity' of the family in How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.

Let’s take a look at how each 'home' featured in the film—whether it’s Grandma's shophouse, Uncle Soei's rented apartment, Siw and M's townhouse, Uncle Kiang's gated community, or Mui's hotel room—reflects the characters in How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies through the storytelling of director Pat Boonnitipat

“The Narrow Alley in Front of Grandma's House and Her Waiting”

Grandma's house is a shophouse located in the Talat Phlu community, an old neighborhood that hasn’t changed with the passage of time. It still bears many traces of memories, from the sticker marks from Uncle Soei's childhood to the belongings of Mother Siw before she moved out, the items left behind by Uncle Kiang, and even the work desk of Grandpa, which remains in the same place.

Pat designed Grandma's shophouse to be a home filled with memories and intentionally chose to place it in a narrow alley—so narrow that cars cannot enter—to showcase the way of life in this little side street, where children can comfortably run and play without the worry of passing vehicles. When there are no cars around, Grandma comes out to sit, water the plants, and enjoys her favorite spot on the stone bench in front of the house. Each time she sees her grandchildren walking through the narrow alley to visit her, it becomes a truly special moment.

"The Old, Cramped, and Run-Down Rented Room That Wants You to Know It Can Take Care of Itself"

Uncle Soei, Grandma's youngest son, faces financial difficulties and can only afford to rent a cheap flat for a place to sleep. The flat is both small and dirty, and it’s far from Grandma’s house. If it weren’t for family gatherings on Sundays, Uncle Soei might not have the chance to bring a smile to Grandma’s face as often.

The character of Uncle Soei exists in almost every home. Pat believes that, despite others labeling him as lazy and unsuccessful, Uncle Soei never sees himself that way. No matter how burdened he is by debt, Uncle Soei has enough dignity to try to solve his problems on his own, as the last thing he wants is for Grandma to worry. He wants Grandma to see that this son can take care of himself.

“An Ordinary Home, Just Like Any Other Mother-Son Duo”

The home of Siw and her son, M, also features a character who isn’t mentioned in the story: M's father. He purchased the house with a mortgage before he passed away, and afterward, Siw took over the remaining payments.

Pat designed Siw's character to closely resemble Grandma. They live in an older home that’s not far from Grandma’s, allowing them to care for her more than any of the other siblings in the family.

"A Convenient, Well-Equipped New Home: Just Dad, Mom, and the Kid"

Uncle Kiang has decided to settle down and start a new family with his wife and adorable daughter. He chose to buy a modern, stylish house in a suburban development, far away from the city. It takes about an hour to drive to Grandma's house, making this the most distant home among the siblings in the family.

Pat intended for Uncle Kiang’s house to be a complete contrast to Grandma's home, which is filled with memories. This new house is spotless and devoid of any historical significance, almost like a fresh restart to begin creating new memories with his new family.

“A Happy Life in a Luxurious Room, Living Only in the Present”

Many people might imagine that when they come into a large sum of money, they should buy a house, a car, or other important assets for themselves. But for someone like Mui, a member of the younger generation who has inherited a sizable fortune from her grandfather, she chooses to find happiness in the present by renting a luxurious hotel room with all the amenities, rather than spending all her money on a house and settling into an ordinary lifestyle like when she took care of her grandfather.

Because no one knows whether she will still be alive in five years, so why not enjoy comfort and happiness right now? This is the mindset of a character who doesn’t need to own anything but can easily spend money to buy happiness.