BFI London Film Festival 2025 Review : Highway to the Moon
Letitia Wright’s “Highway to the Moon ” Explores the Space Between Life and Legacy
In the span of 25-minutes, Letitia Wright brings an intense and sorrowful world to life with great beauty and colour. Her directorial debut Highway to the Moon, not only follows a touching story, but holds all the elements key to leading her on the path to become a talented director – should she so wish.
Micah (Kenyah Sandy) has awoken in an unknown desert. There is a big and beautiful moon on the horizon there for him and the world to see. Disoriented, he hears three boys nearby joking together. They introduce him to this new place, explaining that is the “in between”, “the valley of the lost king”. The boys are here to guide Micah and among this group of other boys, they are all on this journey together. In this realm the young black men there journey through this space as they each confront the idea of what it means to be black in today’s society. As they work together, they create a resilience and empowerment to embrace their self-worth.
From the very beginning Wright makes it clear that the moon is a key character in her film. Micah even explains that for his whole life he has always believed the moon was there watching over him. Using her creative eye, Wright showcases the beautiful landscape of this “in between” realm. As the boys take their journey, there are seamless transitions between moments. She uses the camera and pairs it with a suspenseful and lustrous score to complete the elements that surround the boys.
In Micah there is confusion and hope. He is unaware of where he is and how he got there. Once he learns he has been taken from the world too soon, however, he hopes he will be able to leave this place and move on. Young Kenyah Sandy provides true emotion in his character and is given the chance to show his talents. He knows the history and treatment of young black boys and puts his all into his performance. With such a small time frame to work with, he is able to convey so much emotion and strength for his character.
Something has a hold on Micah and he is not sure exactly what. Every day young black boys are taken from the world too soon, simply for the colour of their skin. In this realm, they come to an understanding that they are all in this together. It is, however, Micah’s journey that the audience is being taken on. As we are whisked away into this world, we follow him as he uncovers the truth about why he is here.
Wright knows where to go with Micah’s story. She takes the truth in that these boys die without ever being able to use their full potential. It becomes lost in the world and nothing to show or prove it was ever there. Indirectly, Wright’s film is a love letter to these young black men and an apology to what they could never do or say. She speaks for them and choosing Kenyah as the vessel for this message to be shared.
For her directorial debut Letitia Wright knows where she is going and what message she wants to share. Her script and direction are strong and the use of scenery and actors as well. Screening as part of the BFI London Film Festival’s Shorts Programme Mapped Out Futures, Wright’s directorial debut shows intense promise. Let us hope it propels her into the world of direction so she can share the stories that need to be shared and express her passions through the screen.
Watch the trailer for Highway to the Moon below
[Review by Hailey Passmore]