The tiny, landlocked nation of Laos nurtures a unique tradition – the national lottery. Every October, when the results of the latest draw are announced, the nation’s communities come together in a spirit of hope and anticipation. The lottery is more than just a game, for many citizens it’s a source of opportunity, a glimmer of hope in the face of economic hardship.
Like other lotteries, the Lao lottery is not without controversy. In recent years, there have been questions over the accuracy of some of the numbers. Especially the smallest digit, a digit that many believe to be a mistake, has been subject to scrutiny. Nevertheless, the lottery is a major part of the country’s culture and continues to provide millions of people with a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging economy.
But while the lottery offers an exciting avenue for potential financial gains, it’s important to remember that it is a form of gambling and can lead to a lot of stress. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that winning the lottery is not an easy feat. The scales of luck could easily tilt either way.
A recent story of a woman who won the lottery brought to light some of the more personal side of the lottery’s impact on the lives of its winners. Xia Rattanakone, who grew up in a Laotian orphanage and later immigrated to the United States, said that she plans to donate some of her $55 million prize to help those who raised her.
Although she has been in the United States for more than a decade, Rattanakone is still deeply connected to her native country. She recalled how she and her siblings would watch TV news reports of the lottery results each week and dream of their own one day becoming a winner.
Mattie Do, the director of Dearest Sister, is an American Lao who grew up in California and has a close connection to her ancestors’ homeland. She started making films four years ago without any formal training, and this is her second feature film.
Dearest Sister is a ghost story, but it’s not your usual Southeast Asian supernatural flick. It’s a well-crafted tale of class critique and psychological horror, replete with atmospheric suspense. And while it sounds a bit preposterous to have ghosts that give out lottery numbers, the movie is far from hokey. It’s actually an excellent film and a better production than many Thai movies released each year.
