Shield Spirit

You’re about to see a short documentary entitled, “Grandpa and Me and a Helicopter to Heaven.” It’s about the special relationship between a boy and his grandfather as they make a trip to the woods on a final adventure. You should grab your tissues now.

The relationship between a remarkably perceptive young boy and his wise, bedridden grandfather overflows with humour, warmth and love. They share jokes, talk love, sex and politics and enjoy each other’s company as only best friends can. As the old man senses that he has reached the end of his days, he takes his grandson into the forest in search of chanterelles, an expedition that offers the boy more than he realizes at first as he learns the secrets to finding and cooking the delicate mushrooms. With a light touch and an extraordinary sense for the fleeting moments in life, the film offers a moving reflection on being young and being old and living and dying.

The first half of the video perfectly depicts the playful friendship between the boy and his grandfather. As the film bounces from present day to years back when the boy was just a baby, it’s clear these two had a strong bond from the start. But be warned — the last half of the video will break your heart in two, just before bringing a smile to your face for the final moments.

Directed by Johan Palmgren and Åsa Blanck, the film won Best Documentary at 2013 Aspen ShortsFest.

Note: 11:58-12:55 may be disturbing to some viewers.