A closeted teen steals a hearse to meet Liza Minnelli. What could go wrong?
Closeted sixteen-year-old Grace Walker is trapped in her very suburban, Christian existence. When news of her estranged biological father’s death, along with his belongings, make it to her stepfather’s funeral home, she discovers drawings, a burned music CD of his favorite songs, and a letter from his close friend Liza Minnelli. On the eve of her mother and stepfather sending her off to conversion therapy, she steals the funeral home’s hearse setting out on a road trip to deliver her father’s ashes to Liza—where she believes her father wanted them to go. Unbeknownst to Grace, in the back of the hearse is passed out, alcoholic, failed father figure, Vietnam vet, sixty-six year old Red—who works at the funeral home. Not having a driver’s license, Grace blackmails Red into driving her to LA. What Grace doesn’t know is that Red has struck a side deal with her stepfather and is planning on delivering her to the conversion therapy center.
Acting
Anwen O'Driscoll's restrained desperation breaks your heart
Writing
Red's betrayal lands with genuine moral weight
Direction
Balances absurd premise with crushing emotional reality
Director
Robert Vaughn
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was director Robert George Vaughn's feature debut after years in documentary, explaining the handheld intimacy.
The Liza Minnelli letter deliberately echoes The Wizard of Oz's 'over the rainbow' as queer cultural touchstone—Grace literally follows a yellow brick road west.
US
