What is the central theme of "If I Go Will They Miss"?

The film explores the tension between family members, fantasy versus reality, and the challenges of healing after a parent's return from prison.

Where is the film "If I Go Will They Miss" set?

The film is set in the working-class Watts neighborhood in South Los Angeles.

Who plays the matriarch in "If I Go Will They Miss"?

Danielle Brooks plays Lozita, the wife of Big Ant and mother to Lil Ant, serving as the emotional anchor of the film.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Sundance Film Explores Family Trauma in Watts

Sundance Film Explores Family Trauma in Watts

29 Jan

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Summary

Film centers on a family grappling with father's return from prison.
Explores themes of fantasy versus reality and childhood dreams.
Danielle Brooks' performance anchors the emotional core of the film.

Sundance Film Explores Family Trauma in Watts

Set in the working-class neighborhood of Watts, Los Angeles, Walter Thompson-Hernández's feature film "If I Go Will They Miss" expands on his earlier short. The movie critically examines the deep-seated tensions within a family struggling to reconnect following the father's, Big Ant's, return from prison. His past incarceration for violence profoundly impacted his family, and their lives are still marked by the consequences.

Central to the narrative is the adolescent Lil Ant, who escapes his circumstances through surreal, imaginative visions, dreaming of flying away. His father, Big Ant, upon release, finds himself changed and struggles to reintegrate. A poignant moment arises when Big Ant discourages his son's drawings, which depict him as a hero, revealing the father's own unfulfilled dreams and flaws.

Lozita, Big Ant's wife and Lil Ant's mother, portrayed by Danielle Brooks, is the film's emotional anchor. As Big Ant reverts to old patterns, Lozita must navigate her own desires while holding the family together. Brooks' nuanced performance, particularly in quieter moments, highlights her character's strength and internal conflict, showcasing the matriarch's vital role in the family's journey.