'If I Go Will They Miss Me' Explores Family, Healing Under LAX Flight Path

Six years after jet fuel was dumped from a Delta Air Lines jet onto neighborhoods near Los Angeles International Airport, writer and director Walter Thompson-Hernández is releasing his new film, "If I Go Will They Miss Me." The movie, which opened in U.S. theaters Friday, explores themes of connection and healing within a family in the Watts neighborhood, set against the backdrop of LAX's constant air traffic.

Thompson-Hernández, who grew up near the airport, draws on his own experiences to craft a narrative that grapples with the dual nature of living under the flight path. "There's 800 airplanes that fly into LAX every single day," he said. "What that does for us is it gives us 800 opportunities to dream, right? But with that dream also comes a terror."

The film follows a young boy named Lil Ant, loosely based on the filmmaker himself, who creates mythological interpretations of his absent father. "I created this like larger-than-life figure," Thompson-Hernández explained. "And what I found was that I wasn't the only one in my neighborhood who was doing that... we have a boy here who wants so deeply to be loved by a father who doesn’t have the tools to love him. And in spite of that, he still sees him as a Greek god. You know, how beautiful is that? How tragic is that?"

Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks, who plays Lil Ant's mother, Lozita, described the film as a "breath of fresh air" that allows her to showcase a different aspect of her acting abilities. J. Alphonse Nicholson plays Lil Ant's father, Big Ant. Brooks expressed her hope that the film will resonate with audiences, stating, "I just want people to know that there's something out there in this art form that can help you see yourself. And also help you reflect on yourself."

"If I Go Will They Miss Me" expands on Thompson-Hernández's 2022 award-winning short film of the same name. The incident that spurred the initial work involved a Delta jet dumping 15,000 gallons of fuel over Cudahy and surrounding areas in 2020 due to engine trouble. A lawsuit filed by teachers at Park Avenue Elementary School against the airline resulted in a $79 million settlement last year, after teachers and children reported skin and lung irritation.

"For me, what that did was it just reminded me of how complicated and how beautiful and how heartbreaking it is to exist and to love under the LAX flight path," Thompson-Hernández said.

The film is rich with symbolism, incorporating elements of Greek mythology, recurring images of planes and ocean waves, and distinct color palettes of purple and blue. Thompson-Hernández views the expansive Los Angeles sky that frames the film as a symbol of hope and an homage to his hometown.

As a former journalist, Thompson-Hernández has previously focused on Southern California subcultures, including his nonfiction book "The Compton Cowboys." He views his storytelling as a documentation of the communities he grew up around, emphasizing their complexity, beauty, and capacity for love and repair.

"Repair is at the center of the story in 'If I Go Will They Miss Me,' which Thompson-Hernández hopes will offer audiences a chance to explore what it looks like for a younger generation to create a future that includes hope and healing," he said. He highlighted a scene where Lozita apologizes to Lil Ant, a moment that reflects his personal journey to understand how to break negative cycles and build healthier relationships.

"How do we not just break the chain, but create a new chain that feels healthy?" Thompson-Hernández reflected. "How lucky am I to explore these questions that I’ve had my entire life that now are able to come out in a movie."