Part of: 2025 Nellie Wong Magic of Movies Essay Contest
Kai slides down the wall onto the sidewalk, closing her eyes tightly, the sound of the glass shattering and ringing. She reaches for a bright weed flourishing in a crack in the gloomy sidewalk. She holds it tightly, not damaging it, and its presence eases her into calm. Kai inhales deeply, clinging to the weed, her head resting in her lap.
Roots That Reach Toward the Sky powerfully affected me with its recurring themes of healing, even when it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The film shows that despite all the hate and stress in the world, we can still connect with one another- and that through nature, we can find a way forward.
I appreciated the film’s thoughtful use of color, and how plants brought Kai a sense of calm and comfort. After watching the film and meeting the director, Jess X Snow, I was impacted because it gave me a new perspective on how people deal with pain and the hatred that has been especially present since COVID. Jess told me, “The outside world was tinted yellow,” referring to the yellow graffiti, “to represent hostility, and the shop and garden were supposed to give a warm and inviting feel to them.” In further conversation, I learned that Jess painted the mural featured in the film, which added a personal and meaningful touch.
I connected to the film on a personal level. My grandma, who lived in Venezuela, studied plants and traditional medicine. Like Kai, she believed in the healing power of plants-especially pomegranates. I haven’t been able to visit Venezuela, even when she got sick, because of the political situation, and now she has passed. Watching Kai heal from her panic attack through her connection to plants reminded me of my grandma, and how plants were her way of caring for others. Now, in my bedroom, I surround myself with plants to create a calming environment in the wake of the political persecution that many Venezuelan immigrants, like my dad, are facing.
To conclude, this film taught me a lot about myself and reminded me how powerful healing and community can be. I felt connected to the story because my grandma used plants to heal, just like Jess and her mom.