FarEye (2026)
Now and again a short film comes along that seems to speak directly to you, and FarEye, Hayden McLean's beautiful short film, was exactly that for me. I caught it at the BFI London Film Festival, and as someone who follows the teachings of Haile Selassie myself, the moment I realised I was watching a story rooted in a Rasta community I was completely won over. Four stars for a film that moved me both as a critic and personally.
It tells the story of a young Jamaican boy, Khalil, fleeing the chaos of an abusive home. After his mother escapes with his sister, he is left in a painful situation with his father, and his search for refuge leads him to a community guided by music, spirit and faith. That community awakens something deep in him, and the film charts that spiritual stirring with real tenderness, the ember of the opening line slowly catching into something that will change the course of his life. It is a coming-of-age story, but a sacred one, about finding belonging and identity in faith and fellowship.
Part of my delight was in the recognitions. I knew the voice of Jesse Royal the instant he began to narrate, and it was lovely to see Donisha Prendergast, Bob Marley's granddaughter, among the people Khalil meets, a piece of casting that feels entirely right given the film's roots. There is an authenticity to it all that you cannot fake, shot in Jamaica with a largely Jamaican cast and crew, and it shows in every frame.
And what frames they are. The cinematography is genuinely gorgeous, the writing is sharp and unhurried, and the music, as you would hope from a film steeped in this culture, is wonderful throughout. I was especially moved that it features Amharic, a language I have a personal connection to, I have the Amharic word for equality tattooed on my arm, and hearing it woven into the film gave me a real jolt of recognition and joy.
Four stars. FarEye is a brilliant piece of work, handling a difficult subject of childhood abuse with grace while ultimately telling a story of hope, healing and spiritual awakening. It is the kind of short that lingers, made with obvious love and belief, and I cannot wait to see what Hayden McLean and Soul Rebel do next. For me it was one of the real highlights of my festival, and I would urge you to seek it out.
Related on Movies With Macca
More from Country Jamaica: The Harder They Come (1972), The Last Tourist (2021), Rockers (1978)
More from the 2020s: All That's Left of You (2025), The Whale (2022), Look Back (2024)
More drama: I Will Be Alright (2026), To the North (2026), Delisted (2026)
