I like how director Mathilde Dratwa’s short tale of coming of age and growing up doesn’t try to be anything but itself. Right until the very end, it’s a cute and very bittersweet tale about accepting adulthood, and the grim realities of being an adult. Sometimes we have to forgive, sometimes we have to forget, and a lot of times running away from problems solves nothing. Martine Moore is adorable as young Sophie, a teenage girl who breaks in to Garden Grove old folks home to break out her grandmother Faye. Faye is a bit eccentric and somewhat odd, but Sophie only feels solace in confiding in her and her alone.
After breaking her out, the two set out to run away from home. While waiting for the bus to appear, Sophie explains why she’s desperate to run away from home, and Faye is more than willing to give her a lesson on the gray areas of life. First and foremost “Escape from Garden Grove” is cute and sweet, with a real handle on its characters. It doesn’t fill the screen with unnecessary padding and keeps us on track with the two charming leads and their utterly interesting characters. Director Dratwa paints two really complex individuals with their own dilemmas and approaches toward life, allowing them conflicting ideas about their world, but ultimately also reveals why they’re so bonded together.
Victoria Blankenship’s performance is wonderful as the quirky Faye who is wiser than she looks, and humors Sophie as best as she can. Though she’s somewhat accepted the fact she’s elderly and dependent on people, she really uses that to emphasize her strength and courage. Through these character traits, it’s easy to see why Sophie is so anxious to bring Faye along with her on the trip, and Faye reveals why life, as unfair as it can be, is also very worth living and enjoying. “Escape from Garden Grove” is a pleasant short dramedy brimming with talent and creativity. I hope to see more from Ms. Dratwa in the future.