THREE TO SEE
Running out of shows to watch? We round up the best streaming and DVD releases of the week
LUCKY GRANDMA (15) HHHHH
BITTERSWEET comedy drama. Cantankerous widow Mrs Wong (Tsai Chin) resists pleas from her son to move out of her apartment in New York’s Chinatown and take up residence in his family home. A visit to a fortune teller raises Mrs Wong’s spirits when she learns that October 28 will be a lucky day. As foretold, a bag of cash falls into her lap during an overnight bus journey. The luggage belongs to Mr Lin, an accountant for the Red Dragon gang, who suffers a fatal heart attack in the next seat. The widow takes the bag and is soon threatened by the gang’s enforcers. In response, Mrs Wong hires bodyguard Big Pong (Ha Hsiao-yuan) of the Zhongliang gang.
Download/stream from November 9.
LOOTED (15) HHHHH
ROB (Charley Palmer Rothwell) is 21 and lives in Hartlepool with his father Oswald (Tom Fisher), a former merchant seaman dying from cancer linked to asbestos exposure on the job. Rob is his old man’s carer, and during the day, he pretends to attend job interviews. In reality, he is stealing cars with best buddy Leo (Thomas Turgoose), his girlfriend Kasia (Morgane Polanski) and pal JP (Anders Hayward). Local hood Amir (Daniel John-williams) promises Leo and Rob a handsome reward to carjack an expensive motor, but there is an unexpected sting in the tail. Looted is a compelling study of a strained father-son dynamic.
Download/stream from November 9.
REAL (15) – PREVIEW
BRITISH writer-director Aki Omoshaybi makes an assured feature debut with an intimate drama which charts a fledgling relationship through difficult times.
Well-dressed high-flyers Kyle (Aki Omoshaybi) and Jamie (Pippa Bennett-warner) meet by chance in a newsagents located between a courthouse and a business centre. Both exude confidence, sparking an instant attraction. However, Kyle and Jamie are projecting false images to conceal the emotional wounds they would prefer to hide from a potential partner. As the romance deepens, it becomes increasingly difficult for the couple to ignore their respective pasts.
Download/stream from November 9.