Set almost entirely within the ethnic enclave of New York City's Chinatown, (there is very little English conversation; almost everything is spoken in Cantonese and Mandarin) filmmaker Sasie Sealy's comedy-thriller has the virtually unheard-of notion to place an elderly Asian female front and center as the lead character. Flinty, cigarette-smoking Grandma Wong (eighty-something UK actress Tsai Chin), widowed after a long marriage to a traditional domineering husband, refuses her son's entreaty to move in which his family, preferring her independence with her own apartment. A neighborhood soothsayer tells Grandma Wong that she is facing an imminent run of extraordinary good luck, and so the heroine joins a casino bus tour, where indeed her gambling pays off handsomely. But the ironic outcome has a bagful of money from local triad gangs literally tumbling into her lap. When young tough guys harass Grandma Wong for the return of the cash, she approaches a rival gang (also, it turns out, run by a woman) and hires a bodyguard, hulking but good-natured Big Pong (Corey Ha). Friendship develops between the two despite Grandma's severe exterior and stubborn refusal to tell anyone how she suddenly came into wealth. Sealy and co-writer Angela Cheng spent years developing the premise with a grant through the Tribeca Film Institute, and the result is an assured, sharp and very likable feature that doesn't fall into the easy trap of over-sentimentalizing the old folks. The occasional "Joy Luck Club" or "Crazy Rich Asians" aside, the rarity of seeing this minority portrayed in three dimensions (and no kung fu) is a praiseworthy thing indeed for an American production. The distinction, abetted by the fact that it's just a plain good film, should earn "Lucky Grandma" its place on shelves. Extras include the trailer and a set of behind-the-scenes featurettes and filmmaker/talent interviews. Highly recommended. (C. Cassady)