Take Me Home is the narrative feature adaptation of Liz Sargent's critically acclaimed and Oscar-qualified short that premiered at Sundance 2023 and has since screened at over 50 festivals and the White House. It follows Anna, a disabled family caregiver, who is based on Liz's real-life sister, navigating abrupt changes in her family's life and seeking to define her future.
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
My work often explores cultural divides, intimate, harrowing moments, and the ways we transcend language. As the middle child of eleven siblings, I've been deeply involved in supporting family members facing borderline personality disorder, PTSD, depression, and cognitive/developmental disabilities. Growing up in this environment gave me a profound understanding of the nuance, complexity, and beauty in flawed, yet deeply human, individuals.
In our fast-paced and competitive world, I often think about my youngest sister, Anna, who has a Cognitive/Developmental Disability (CDD). The world is not designed for her. Anna was born extremely premature, leaving her with limited short-term memory, and she'll never be able to live independently. Many people's lives are upended when they lose a parent, but even more so when they inherit the responsibility of a disabled sibling. Navigating the bureaucracy of care is a steep learning curve, and while the best practice is to honor and empower self-direction, how do we balance each person's independence? With over 15,000 people on waitlists for Assisted Living in most states, and the exorbitant costs, these are urgent questions.
My film doesn't offer solutions to these problems but presents an alternate reality where small changes can create a more integrated world, improving life for everyone. There is hope, symbolized by the light that shines through objects that only Anna values—small reminders of resilience.
“Take Me Home” follows Anna as she navigates her contained, yet ever-changing world. The film is based on the short of the same name, which screened at Academy Qualifying festivals such as Sundance, SXSW, deadCenter FF (Special Jury Award), and LAAPFF (Golden Reel Best Short). The proof of concept was also a Variety Prediction For Your Consideration for the 2024 Academy Award shorts nomination.
Audiences connect deeply with Anna Sargent’s performance, proving that a cognitively disabled actress can lead a film. The subtlety and depth of her emotions allow the audience to understand her marginalized voice. This film could only have been made with my sister Anna, whose unique way of communicating I know intimately. By creating space for her dynamic performance, we invite the audience to lean in and listen to the nuances of her expression.
While the film also touches on the experiences of two Asian adoptees, it isn’t centered on adoptee trauma. Instead, it presents the adopted family as a unique balancing act, exploring family responsibilities that are both overwhelming and universal. As an adoptee, I’m committed to portraying nuanced human stories of adoptees without glorifying trauma or white saviors.
Set in Orlando, Florida, the film’s aesthetic reflects the harshness of sun, rain, heat, and dampness. We closely follow this intimate portrait, with occasional wide shots offering relief from the stifling home or providing a broader perspective on this microcosm. The characters' world is small—limited to trips to the grocery store, the beach, and the library—but it's their reality. Anna's honesty cuts through the facade that her parents try to maintain, calling out the world’s contradictions.
The story unfolds gradually, drawing us so deeply into the characters' lives that the arc feels almost imperceptible. It's a gently told, yet profoundly human horror story that becomes an existential commentary on our ableist world. The photography blends the characters into their environment, almost camouflaging them within their surroundings.
“Take Me Home” empowers its disabled character and highlights the ethical dilemmas of caregiving within the impossible American healthcare system. It exposes glimpses of privilege and capitalism—who has access to care and who doesn't? Who gets to live a respectable life when their abilities are limited?
What does it mean to disappear when you’ve never even been truly seen?
AWARDS
American Cinematheque's Grand Jury Award at PROOF of Concept Film Festival
SFFILM Rainin Grant Winner
Finalist Lynn Shelton Women of A Certain Age Grant
Finalist Stowe Story Lab Film Fatales Fellowship
Finalist Humanitas New Voices Fellowship