“Caretaker” by Veronica Wood

Documentary

Jun 13

This documentary is a quiet meditation on my mom, uncle, and grandparents sustained roles of caretaking, across generations. When my uncle Antonio loses his sight from a heart medication side effect, his sister, my mom, steps into the role their mother once held: steadfast caretaker. Their story unfolds not only in the present, but through the flickers of memory—childhoods shaped by migration to America, and by violence and absence. Woven from my family's archives, oral memory, and the texture of everyday caretaking, this work is about the bittersweetness of being there for your family. The song you hear at the end, 'Las Mañanitas' (Little Mornings) is a traditional Mexican song we sing on birthday mornings. All the Super8 footage was shot by my grandfather Carlos, and the score was composed and performed by my cousin Victor.