In ‘Granny’s Daughters’, Summer J Robinson crafts a tale of family, history, and resilience. The film centers around Granny (Harriet Hooks), an aging Black matriarch who spent her youth caring for white families and is now bedridden, relying on her family to care for her. With each character’s varied lens, Robinson reveals a story both intimate and universal, presenting the bonds and fractures within a family that’s navigating generational legacy.
As Granny’s health declines, her daughter Linda (Linda McLoud), her granddaughter Monique (BlaQue Pearl), and great-granddaugther Sahrah (Brittany Broderick) find themselves entangled in disagreements about the future of Granny’s home. Linda is resolute in her desire to preserve the house, a credit to her mother’s hard-won labor, while Sahrah and Monique lean toward letting it go, seeing it as a relic of the past. The tension surrounding this decision serves as a poignant exploration of the weight of familial heritage – Linda’s fierce loyalty contrasts sharply with Sahrah’s desire to move forward.
Despite their differences, these women come together to care for Granny, creating a rich tableau of intergenerational love that feels raw, almost documentary-like. ‘Granny’s Daughters’ captures these characters with such authenticity.
Beautifully shot with restrained production choices, the film’s modesty adds to its emotional realism, allowing the powerful performances to glow. The result is a short film that’s as honest as it is beautifully rendered – a story of strong Black women, bound by blood and bound to care.