Grandma & Isabella

Director Statement

I made “Grandma & Isabella” as a way to honor my maternal grandmother, who was a primary caregiver to my sister and I as we grew up. As a child, I saw my grandmother as disciplined and tough, but looking back, I realize that while she rarely expressed sentimentality in words, she showed love through her consistency and attention. Whether it was making us breakfast, reminding us of our table manners, or scolding us for not doing our homework, these seemingly small expressions of care were essential for us.

I met Livina “Grandma” Dawkins through her grandson, Christopher, while we were teaching at an after-school filmmaking program. I had long wanted to make a film about grandmothers raising their grandchildren, highlighting the care and consistency I had experienced. When Christopher and I discussed how our grandmothers played significant roles in raising us, I asked if his grandmother knew any families interested in participating in an observational documentary. She enthusiastically volunteered her own family. Livina’s openness allowed me full access to film her and her family for over four years. Since that initial introduction, Christopher has become a co-producer on the film, actively participating in the post-production and distribution process.

By focusing on the quiet, everyday rhythms of Livina and Isabella’s life, I wanted to create space for audiences to reflect on the people who provided them with structure, safety, and love in ways that may have gone unnoticed at the time. Though seemingly simple, “Grandma & Isabella” also speaks to larger social realities. An estimated 2.7 million grandparents in the United States are raising their grandchildren, and approximately 60 million American households are now multigenerational.