This scholarly article provides a rhetorical analysis of How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Lahn Mah, 2024) through Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle, which consists of Pathos, Ethos, and Logos. The study aims to investigate how the film employs rhetorical strategies to persuade audiences emotionally, ethically, and logically. The narrative of the film addresses themes of elderly care, intergenerational family relations, and filial piety in contemporary Thai-Chinese society. It not only reflects Thailand’s transition into an aging society but also functions rhetorically to foster cross-cultural understanding. Findings reveal that the film employs Pathos through emotionally charged depictions of illness, death, and intergenerational care; Ethos by presenting the grandmother as a morally credible figure and authentically portraying Thai-Chinese cultural values; and Logos by constructing a coherent storyline, symbolic mise-en-scène, cinematic arts, and logical connections to broader social issues. This study concludes that the film serves not only as a family melodrama but also as a rhetorical text that shapes perception, emotion, and values within global society. Lahn Mah is indeed a good and compelling movie worth watching.

Authors:
Paninya Paksa, Bangkok University, Thailand

About the Presenter(s)
Mr. Paninya Paksa is currently a lecturer of film program, School of Digital Media and Cinematic Arts, Bangkok University, Thailand.

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