‘Big Mama’ an Ageless Story of Love

Love and tenderness abound in “Big Mama,” the warm and quite wonderful documentary that earned an Academy Award this year as best short subject.

Produced and directed by Tracy Seretean, the 45-minute project follows Viola Dees, an 89-year-old grandmother who struggled to prove to the Los Angeles child welfare system that she could care for her young grandson Walter. (See related feature, F2)

“I finally convinced them that age had nothing to do with love,” says Viola, a vital and vibrant woman who kept a promise to her dying son that she would raise Walter, a respectful boy whose drug-addicted mother abandoned him after birth.

Their tightly knit bond takes a rocky turn when Viola returns home from the hospital after suffering a heart attack, prompting an insecure Walter to fear that he will lose her. Shortly thereafter, Walter’s hostile actions result in his admission to a psychiatric hospital, where officials declare he needs more help than Viola can give him.

Seretean’s cameras consistently capture the strong connection and boundless affection between these loved ones. In spite of her frailty and advanced age, one suspects that the razor-sharp Viola had the inner strength and resolve to care for Walter, but it’s also evident that his hyperactivity and unpredictable nature could spell disaster at any time.

As a first-time filmmaker, Seretean maintains an emotional distance from her subjects, yet presents them in a compelling and compassionate manner that wins us over from the moment we meet them.

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* “Big Mama” can be seen tonight at 7:30 on Cinemax. The network has rated it TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children).