The Pacific Northwest provides a striking backdrop for the short film Hold My Beer, a family dramedy exploring themes of forgiveness and craft beer. The film follows Val (Andrew York), an autistic young adult who faces an ultimatum: find a job before his 21st birthday or be enrolled in the local community college by his parents. In an uplifting journey, Val seeks to reconnect with his family, pursue his passion for craft beer, and start his own brewpub. This film was made possible in part by the City of Vancouver, Washington’s Culture, Arts, and Heritage Grant Program and co-produced by Autism Empowerment.
Director Brian Tashima tells this story of discovery with an ensemble that includes Val’s father Roger (Eric Holmes), stepfather Carl (Kevin Coy), his mother Ellen (Karen Krejcha), and his friends Jess (Ian Engelsman) and Sky (Ethan Blackwelder). Most of these performances can feel uneven and on the amateur side, which unfortunately diminishes the impact of the amusing script.
One of the highlights of the cast is Shannon (Lydia Pearl Pentz), a local commercial banker who appears in several key scenes. Her performance brings a refreshing energy, delivering the script with glowing, radiant enthusiasm. Her character comes across as an angelic force who captivates Val, even in her limited screen time.
Andrew York’s portrayal of a character with autism presents a meaningful opportunity for a young actor who also self identifies as neurodivergent. His dedication to embracing his creativity and contributing to this important project is something the audience will surely applaud. His performance is both touching and authentic, capturing the reality of autism in a young adult while striving to find inspiration to pursue a professional career, all while adding a touch of humor.
The script is written with the challenges of autism in mind, making the audience feel empathy for Val and his situation with his family. It provides an authentic narrative take on the craft beer homebrewing scene in Washington State, as several real local homebrewers appear in this film as extras.
Unfortunately, the cinematography (Daniel Downs) is very simplistic. Director Tashima does make the best of some quaint locales, shooting in some local businesses in Vancouver, but the lighting and set design comes off non-descript and doesn’t hold the attention of the audience.
The music choices from the Music Supervisor (DJ Dexx), and the original score from Torin Tashima, provide audiences with interludes of energetic rock tunes comprised of all local indie bands from the Vancouver, Washington area. The music gives the film some much needed energy. Sometimes the sound mix of the music overpowers the transitions from scene to scene in the editing. The music choices however do accomplish the goal of making the audience root for Val to succeed.
As a first-time filmmaker, Tashima shows a lot of promise. This short film tackles an important and culturally relevant topic, and it serves as a passion project for the local autism community of Vancouver. The film has a lot of heart, even though the execution is a bit rough around the edges. Audiences will admire Val’s personal journey, and craft beer lovers and homebrewers will appreciate the film’s showcase of their world.
The search for direction in life and true self-discovery are powerful themes that present intense challenges for many young adults, especially those with autism and neurodiversity struggles. Tashima crafts an inspiring story about family, forgiveness, and the pursuit of one’s dreams, creating an entertaining way to connect with his audience while raising awareness of this crucial issue.
Hold My Beer bridges the dynamic community focused craft beer movement of the Pacific Northwest, with the realities and challenges of autism. As Val and his family navigate their complicated past, the theme of forgiveness propels the narrative forward, culminating in a deeply inspiring tale.
