Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity (2002)

Сюжет кино: LONG LIFE, HAPPINESS & PROSPERITY is a charming little film, another successful product of the Film Movement, which takes a small kernel of story and stretches it into the Butterfly Effect with fine comedic and sensitive writing from director Mina Shum and Dennis Foon. Films that give the flavor of life of communities outside the usual subject matter are always welcome, enlightening, and offer the audience to understand 'cultural differences' that are actually mirrors to the lifestyles of us all.
In a small Chinese community in Vancouver we meet Mindy Lum (a gifted young Valerie Tian) who at age twelve is concerned that her mother Kin Ho Lum (Sandra Oh), deserted by her husband, has narrowed her life to working in a dim sum cafe washing dishes, foregoing any possible social life, much less romantic interest. Mindy is convinced her mother should date fellow worker Alvin Ng (Russell Yuen) and while Alvin is attracted to Kin Ho, the latter can't be bothered. Mindy turns to Taoist magic, reading tacky dimestore manuals on tricks and love potions and spends her money on dragon mirrors and other paraphernalia in the attempt to attract Kin Ho and Alvin, to win the lottery, and to find the lost turtle of her little friend. She obtains a love potion from a 'sorceress', gathers circles made of the essential elements, and plies her mirrors and notebook instructions to gain her ends. But as fate would have it the magic becomes misdirected.
This altered tour of magic spells introduces other people in the community: the butcher Bing Lai (Ric Young) who has been separated form his own father for 20 years and tries to retrieve that relationship by preparing his only son Peter (Kameron Louangxay) to take over his business (Peter instead becomes a Buddhist monk); a security guard Shuck Wong (Chang Tseng) who is laid off from work and considers suicide when he can't even win the lottery; the quest for the lost turtle of Mindy's little friend. It is a series of 'best laid plans' (or aborted magic) that results in a series of changes and discoveries among these people and especially for Mindy's mother's future.
The dialog is divided between Cantonese and English (with subtitles) and the choice fits the flavor of the film. There are many fine supporting actors in this cast (especially Christina Ma), but the success of the story lies firmly in the hands of the superb Sandra Oh and the young Valerie Tian. Director Mina Shum has the insight and grace to keep this little tale light and tender, never allowing the plot to sink into bathos. Yes, there are flaws, but the end result is a touching low budget film that is honest and speaks to the heart. Grady Harp, September 07.