https://blackgirlnerds.com/sundance-2026-review-if-i-go-will-they-miss-me-is-a-tender-mythic-coming-of-age-story/

In 2022, director Walter Thompson-Hernández released the 13-minute short If I Go Will They Miss Me, centered on a young boy named Lil Ant and his fascination with Pegasus, the Greek mythological figure. The short went on to win the 2022 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Award in U.S. Fiction. In his latest feature-length film of the same name, Thompson-Hernández expands that narrative, inviting audiences to share in Lil Ant’s coming-of-age journey.

Lil Ant, played by Bodhi Jordan Dell, has a complicated relationship with his father, Big Ant, portrayed by J. Alphonse Nicholson, as the two struggle to reconnect after Big Ant returns home following his release from prison. The film’s emotional core rests in the fragile family ties that bind them, explored through a poetic and metaphorical lens rather than conventional storytelling. Lil Ant’s mother, Lozita, played by Danielle Brooks, is also deeply affected by the shifting dynamic between her husband and son. Caught in the middle, she bears the emotional weight of Big Ant’s unresolved anger, which often spills over onto Lil Ant. While she comforts her son, she grapples with guilt and frustration, yearning for Big Ant to become the role model her family needs, something he is not yet prepared to be.

Throughout the film, Lil Ant draws inspiration from Greek mythology, particularly Pegasus, viewing his father as a godlike figure who is powerful, distant, and deeply flawed. This mythological framing adds emotional depth to the story and reinforces how children often mythologize their parents, even when reality falls short.

There is a beautiful, whimsical tone to the film that feels reminiscent of Moonlight. One standout scene at the beach, set against crashing waves, captures a rare moment of connection between Lil Ant and Big Ant. It is a quiet, majestic interlude that lingers long after it ends. The film unfolds in montages and fragments, with intentional non-linear editing that encourages the viewer to immerse themselves in the characters’ emotional states rather than passively observe their story. Thompson-Hernández wants audiences to feel these moments and understand the context behind each character’s choices and the paths they take.

This is very much a Sundance film, poetic, artful, and deeply atmospheric, crafted for cinephiles who appreciate cinema as an emotional and aesthetic experience.

The performances by J. Alphonse Nicholson and Danielle Brooks are superb. Their on-screen chemistry is electric, and it is easy to imagine them excelling together in future projects. Nicholson, in particular, continues to prove himself as a formidable talent. He also serves as executive producer on this movie. I previously interviewed him for his one-man show Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green, which premiered at the American Black Film Festival last year, and he remains an actor well worth watching.

If I Go Will They Miss Me is a film filled with heart, beauty, and tenderness that resonates quietly but deeply. The movie is currently screening at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and is available to stream online.

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