In Grandir, Cabrera expanded her diaristic approach, starting by filming family at her brother's wedding in Massachusetts.
[3] From there, the filmmaker continued recording events and gatherings – holidays, births, and her father's funeral[4] – in the hopes of grappling with family secrets, which might explain her anxiety and persistent insomnia.
[5] She also traveled to Algeria with her sister to investigate the mysterious conditions surrounding their mother's birth.
[12] It received favorable press coverage from Le Monde,[13] Télérama,[14] Critikat,[15] Culturopoing,[16] and Challenges.
[20] A 2021 retrospective of Cabrera's work at the Pompidou Center included the film with an introduction from fellow autobiographical filmmaker Ross McElwee.