A mother’s bittersweet lesson of letting go.
A mother’s bittersweet lesson of letting go.
Directed by: Emma Croft
Through diary footage filmed over many years and a fleeting yet precious summer a single mother records her son’s transition into young adulthood whilst struggling to keep a connection with him. She turns the camera on her son and his skateboarding hobby, documenting him growing up and in turn, rediscovering herself.
The film combines documentary and poetry to delve deep into a mother’s complex and profound love for her only son. It is a bittersweet depiction of a mother’s gaze as she watches her son’s last summer of boyhood.
While the mother tries to hold on tight, her son teaches her to let go.
Emma Croft is an actress, director, writer, and producer with a distinctive voice and passion for telling female stories. Her directorial debut short film, Honest Lie (2015), screened at the London Short Film Festival, her recent documentary Holding On (2025) was awarded the prestigious Tarkovski Grant and is picking up festival accolades, and her debut feature film, Invincible (2025), is currently screening on the festival circuit. Right now, she has the short narrative film The Path in the final stages of post-production and a number of projects in development.
Before transitioning to directing, Emma established herself as an accomplished actress, appearing in acclaimed productions such as Smilla’s Sense of Snow, Trial and Retribution, and As You Like It. This background provides her with a keen insight into performance and narrative. Emma is also the founder of Asphalt City Films and co-founder of Vince Films. Emma is a member of Directors UK, WTFV, and Shooting People.
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