Lucian Nakazato-Patterson’s childhood, marked by neglect and frustration, serves as the foundation for his script for Go For Grandma. Sabrina Doyle directs this fantasy drama about the young Lucian (Austin Schoenfeld). His dad lives in San Francisco while he’s in New York City with his mom, Blake (Justine Lupe). Blake is always frustrated with her son for every minor thing, such as being one of the last students out of the door after school. She is also neglectful, failing to properly feed Lucian most days.
Yet, the young Lucian keeps a sunny disposition despite the challenges. This resilience is largely thanks to his Grandma (Amy Madigan), who lives just across the street. Lucian uses a walkie-talkie to communicate with his beloved family member while looking directly out his bedroom window into her living room. Grandma, an artist, weaves fantastical tales as the boy falls asleep. During waking hours, when Lucian feels too overwhelmed, he imagines dragons, unicorns, or all manner of things to take his mind off all the bad surrounding his home life. His strength in the face of adversity is a testament to the human spirit, evoking empathy and support from the audience.

“…he imagines dragons, unicorns, or all manner of things to take his mind off all the bad surrounding his home life.”
Go For Grandma is a visual marvel from start to finish. Maximilian Schmige’s cinematography is lush and full of eye-popping colors. The special effects by Brian Walsh and the visual effects team at Crater Studio are awe-inspiring. These effects are not just good for an independently produced short; they rival those of big-budget studio productions. The details in the red dragon or the magical nature of the unicorn surpass several recent big-budget titles, such as The Flash and Moonfall, to name a few, leaving the audience in awe.
Happily, the astounding effects are not the only thing going for the film. The story is uplifting and will stay with all who watch it long after the credits roll. Schoenfeld, who only has one other credit on IMDb, is a natural talent. His exuberance at hearing Grandma’s bedtime stories feels real. His hunger during the bus ride to school is palpable. Lupe plays Blake as slightly immature but not abusive. There’s no malice behind her actions; she merely puts herself as the number one priority, which makes some sense from a certain point of view. This makes her actions even more heartbreaking. Then of course, there’s the incomparable Amy Madigan (Streets Of Fire for the win!). She’s luminous, and projects love and warmth in every scene.
The story of Go For Grandma is a beacon of hope and the film is perfect in every imaginable way. The effects are jaw-dropping and put several so-called blockbusters to shame. The story, with its engaging narrative and hopeful undertones, is a source of inspiration that will stay with all who watch it long after the credits roll. The cast is phenomenal, creating multi-faceted characters out of their excellently written roles.
Go For Grandma screened at the 2024 Seattle Film Festival.