A review by liberrydude
La ballata di un piccolo giocatore by Lawrence Osborne

4.0

Should be called "Win Some, Lose It All" but that would give the plot away. The main character and perhaps only character, as he is so self absorbed, is a real jerk-a reprehensible liar, thief, and risk junkie-Lord Doyle. He's the English ex-pat you see in Hong Kong and Macao at the casino who lives there in perpetuity like a chained prisoner. He just can't leave and when he does it's because he's out of cash and can't pay the bills-only to return again or to another casino with cash he has borrowed, begged, or stolen. Osborne's eloquent writing kept me turning the pages with every peak and valley of Doyle's battle with lady luck. Osborne's physical and figurative description of a woman called Grandma, another gambling addict, was something I'll always remember. He gets into a philosophical discussion of probability, luck, fortune, and chance and how they differ with the Chinese and the West. Doyle speaks Chinese and hears himself being routinely mocked by the "mainlanders." He is fueled by spite for his hosts and one wonders why he keeps living as he only enjoys one moment- when he risks it all and wins. Even when he wins he is not happy. He has so many opportunities for redemption and casts them aside. The ending was rather unclear but perfect for a movie.