I’d Rather Burn Than Bloom

Sixteen-year-old Marisol is consumed by guilt after her mother dies following a car accident that occurred after an argument between them. She fixates on their frequent fights and on not saying goodbye at the hospital. Grief and anger lead Marisol to heavy drinking and trouble at school, while her white father struggles to face his own memories and feelings. As silence fills their home, Marisol also confronts broken friendships and questions about her Filipina mother. Her story traces a gradual release of grief and guilt.