“If I Go Will They Miss Me” is a small, quiet drama about a boy who wonders if anyone will notice he’s gone. Directed and written by Walter Thompson-Hernández, the film centers on Lil Ant (Bodhi Dell), a young boy whose father Big Ant (J. Alphonse Nicholson) is drifting through life without purpose. The story unfolds across 89 minutes, and it leans on poetry and feeling rather than spectacle.
Trailer, via Rich Spirit.
The Four Pillars of the Story
The film is built around four things that carry its weight:
- A father-son bond that’s closer to a conversation than a performance.
- A mother, Lozita (Danielle Brooks), whose presence anchors the story without ever being a simple bystander.
- A boy who wants to matter before it’s too late.
- A sense of place that feels lived-in, not staged.
“Hope that love can transform even the most fragile relationships.”
That line captures the whole film’s aim. It’s not a story about fixing a broken home. It’s a story about whether a boy’s love is enough to change the shape of it.
Dell and Nicholson Carry the Weight
Dell plays Lil Ant with a steady, unassuming presence. He doesn’t demand attention; he earns it through small, telling glances and pauses. Nicholson matches him note for note as Big Ant, a man who’s lost his way but hasn’t lost his tenderness. Brooks grounds the film as Lozita, giving the story its emotional center.
The supporting cast — 2-Moon Friend (Kelvin Adekunle), Jenn (Bre-Z), and JJ (Myles Bullock) — fill out the world without stealing focus. Their roles are small, but they’re necessary ones.
Pace and Craft
The film moves slowly. That’s deliberate, not a flaw. It trusts the audience to sit with silence between scenes. Some viewers will find that patience rewarding; others will drift away. The film’s strength is its restraint, not its pace.
There’s nothing flashy here. The camera stays close to the characters, and the editing keeps the story tight despite the slow build. It’s a film about noticing the people around you before they disappear, and it makes that idea feel true.
The Verdict
This is a film best judged by what it achieves, not by what it could have been. It succeeds on its own modest terms, and that success is real.
If I Go Will They Miss Me is a quiet triumph of craft over spectacle. It earns its runtime and its audience’s attention.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
