12/26/2022
Red Eye
A film by
Produced at
On Christmas Eve Santa’s Helper, Angela, drives her estranged daughter to the airport to catch the red eye flight home to Angela’s ex-husband. On the car ride she reveals the truth about her past mistakes and why he took their daughter on Christmas Day 16 years ago.
Do you believe in Santa?
Filmmaker’s statement
I have always been fascinated with the human condition and why we do the things we do. Why do we lie, cheat and steal? I am particularly intrigued with how humans court, mate, act in relationship and how we foster family. What brings us together? What tears us apart? What keeps a couple in union? What keeps a family whole?
In Red Eye I was excited to explore the notion of estranged family members reuniting. I wanted to explore the unspoken sadness that Christmas can bring to many people. I wanted to show the delicate intricacies of how addiction and poor life choices can haunt us and rip our lives and families apart. I also wanted to show the soft space of hope and how we can learn to forgive ourselves and our loved ones for our mistakes.
I wanted to explore the mother/daughter relationship and pay homage to my own mum who would talk to/at me about the important and awkward things in life, in the car, because she didn’t have to look at me, and I couldn’t escape. I was a captured audience.
Red Eye is available to screen via