Customer Reviews

Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is not the greatest, deepest film in the world, but it is immense fun. If anything, it reminds me of Shakespearian comedies such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, or the occasional magically whimsical European film such as King of Hearts. I saw it in theatre, knew nothing of what to expect (other than that I'd liked the Mina Shum / Sandra Oh team in "Double Happiness"), and was utterly enchanted. My only disappointment was that it was a 1-day run so I couldn't go back the next night.

Since Amazon doesn't provide a review or plot summary, I'll give what I can remember. Sandra Oh is Kin Ho Lum (gleaned from imdb; I don't know if her name is ever mentioned), a recently-divorced mother who has retreated to Vancouver's Chinese district where she washes dishes, studiously avoids involvement with men, and seems in general depressed and licking her wounds. Her 10'ish daughter Mindy (Valerie Tan, in a classic upstaging) is withdrawn and serious, trying to compensate for her vulnerability and powerlessness by turning to traditional Chinese magic, of a dimestore sort (equivalent to newspaper astrology columns vs. serious charts).

Mindy tries to use her magic to help many situations, from winning a lottery to bringing her mother and the nice guy she works with together, to finding a friend's lost turtle, but is disappointed when the magic doesn't seem to work. The camera, though, (and we) see that her spells and potions often do work but go hilariously astray, leading to much confusion. (The comparison to Midsummer Night's Dream was considered.)

Misplaced spell after misplaced spell stirs the pot, until in the end it is all sorted out with great panache and gaiety.

Oh's performance is good, bringing her usual edgy nuance to the role, and the ensemble cast is mostly quite good. But the true star is Valerie Tan with her owl-eyed, deadpan seriousness.

This film may not be to everyone's taste, but it certainly cast its spell over me.

I saw this film as part of Magnolia Arts Center's film series. It's a delightful lighthearted tale about Asian immigrants. Sandra Oh who has won two Best Actress Genie Awards (Canada's Oscar) for "Double Happiness," also with director Mina Shum, & "Last Night" & had her breakthrough in "Sideways" and now is known for "Grey's Anatomy" TV series is edgy with wit and humor as the preoccupied single mother Kin Ho. Her daughter Mindy played by Valerie Tian who was also in "Wake of Death" with Jean Claude Van Damme does a wonderful job as the edgy young girl who experiments with Chinese magic, not always with the result she intends. Mindy's goal is to end her mother's unhappiness by having her marry Alvin played by Russell Yuen. In so doing, Mindy's magic causes a security guard to lose his job and almost commit suicide. Yuen has also appeared in films "Bulletproof Monk," "The Human Stain," & "Eye of the Beholder" with Ashley Judd & Ewan McGregor. Ric Young who was in "The Corrupter" and "The Transporter" does a good job as a butcher whose pride alienates his wife & son. Shot in Vancouver, "Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity" is an excellent evening filled with humor (chasing the duck) & the reality of families caring about each other while getting through the demands of paying the bills. Seek & you shall find! Enjoy!

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.

This is among the most wonderful, heart-warming films I have ever seen. The screenplay writing is excellent. The acting, particularly by Sandra Oh and by the child who palys her daughter, are brilliant. I highly recommend this film.

that this film is a captivating delight!

And made so especially by its star, Valerie Tian, as the adorable "Mindy".

And Sandra Oh! The first I've seen of her, but she's also terrific.

Don't waste time reading this: settle in and watch the film!

LONG LIFE, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY is one of those quiet, lovely films that causes the audience to think and feel. That is because it is about magic ... Chinese magic. Compared to its cinematic sibling DOUBLE HAPPINESS and another classic from the early 1980s, DIM SUM, this film charms in more ways than one.

Firstly: I protest anyone who insults or denigrates the characters, the actors and/or this film. This film represents a genuine slice of the Chinese-Canadian community and this takes place in Vancouver. Any reviewer insulting the performers, the message or the film by using racist terms should be banned from Amazon.

Sandra Oh, in a strangely angry, tense performance, plays a young mother struggling to do right by her young daughter. In return, her somewhat unconventional young girl is seriously employing Chinese magic to bring her mother back into the World of the Happy. All she wants, it seems, is for mom to be happy.

Yet the magic in this film traverses more than one storyline. Others in the community are also in pain, struggling, and miserably searching. A father, who has been rejected by his own father, rejects his son (who wants to be a Buddhist priest, not a butcher); an older couple faces some horrible moments when the fellow loses his job five years from retirement; a hilariously weird small boy is in torment looking for his pet turtle.

An eccentric Chinatown community rounds out the cast; the best is the transvestite witch, hiding in the back of the local market, with her day-glo-colored tracksuit, creepy potions, and bad wig/makeup. This somehow ties into the fact that the little girl is performing Taoist magical rituals all over the neighborhood, and by golly the stuff works ... but not as she intends.

This is such a gently paced, wonderful comedy that I am stunned it hasn't a bigger audience. These Chinese-North American films are the jewellery ornamenting areas of the global cinematic crown. How and why they are ignored is beyond me. Certainly Sandra Oh is always game, and several beloved Asian stars will shine out familiarly here.

Get this and enjoy a hilarious, quietly paced and deeply philosophical meditation on suffering, loneliness, pain and the ultimate redemption from it all.

I had never heard of this movie, but I happened upon it at the video store, and since I love Sandra Oh, I decided to try it. From the 1st to the last scene, I was captivated. The stories of the magical child, hardworking mother ( Sandra was the mother, and what a gifted beautiful actress she is. SHe says it all in her eyes..) with the child Mindy played by a superbly talented and extremely beautiful Valerie Tian. . The little girl Mindy believed in magic and charms, and her hopeful innocence and optimism are the core of this sweet amazing movie.
The stories seemed to be about family and hopes, dreams, luck, magic, optimism, and rebounds from heartbreaks.
My favorite characters besides the ones played by Sandra and Mindy, were: Chang Tseng as Shuck Wong, an actor with the most lovely face, gentle expressions that conveyed more than words ever could. An amazing actor! I loved him! And his gorgeous, strong wife who loved him so and was in her way, as optimistic as Mindy! SHe was played by Tsai Chin. I would like to look at the prior work done by these two amazing people.
All I can say is, if you want a heartwarming, sweet, and soulful movie, this would be the one. As another movie has said: Get Out Your Handkerchiefs. ( or Kleenex)

Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity is set in a grim Chinese area of Vancouver. 12-year old Mindy wants to help her mom to find a husband and improve her financial situation and she decides to do that with the help of Taosist magic. The charms don't work quite as expected - but it works! Mixing comedy with drama, this movie creates an image of hope and romance against the rather grey reality and makes you believe in miracles again.

The little girl who plays Sandra Oh's quirky but well-meaning daughter steals the show. She reminds me of the bespectacled, scheming Ralphie in A Christmas Story. Have a little patience with this subtle gem of a film. About the loudest moments are a firecracker or two-- but it all pays off in the end. The intertwining storylines are timeless. I like Sandra Oh in about anything she does. She always plays it real, with a little dry humor, even here, as an overworked single mom.

Is Li Tai Tai the potion person a drag queen???

Did anyone else think this movie didn't make any sense? Why would an Asian woman with excellent English skills be working in a Chinatown restaurant kitchen? I get that not all Asians have to have college degrees and work as doctors or lawyers, but it doesn't make any sense that Sandra Oh's character would be doing a service job in Chinatown. It also didn't make any sense that the butcher wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. What Chinese immigrant goes to Canada or America so that his son or daughter becomes a butcher?

Could somebody please make a movie that reflects the real, contemporary Asian America/Canada? I'm so tired of watching movies that talk about "saving face." Yes, that's part of Chinese culture...but that theme has been done to death, and in more compelling films.