Cheyenne Christie’s The High Road (2025) is an intimate and honest short film that explores the complicated relationship between an estranged mother and daughter. Their journey on the road mirrors their strained relationship, where moments of progress and connection are repeatedly interrupted by the weight of unresolved trauma, resentment and pain. What unfolds is a deeply personal story about the difficulty of reflecting and healing when neither party has truly recovered from the past.
What makes The High Road particularly compelling is its sincerity. Christie describes the project as being inspired by her own experiences, and that authenticity is clear throughout. Rather than relying solely on heightened conflict, the film focuses on the raw emotions of its characters. Their conversations feel tender and genuine, with the dialogue never presenting easy answers. Instead, it acknowledges how trauma can become embedded within relationships and can continue to affect them long after the initial wounds were inflicted.
Pulling from personal experience allows Christie to approach the subject matter with a level of nuance that feels genuine. The film never sensationalises its characters’ struggles, instead it presents them with empathy and understanding, making their emotions and conflict feel all the more believable.
One of the film’s strongest creative choices comes during moments of confrontation. The muffled speech used during arguments creates a palpable sense of tension, immersing the audience in the weight of the conversation. Instead of focusing on the words being spoken, the technique emphasises the feelings behind them. The frustration, anger, and sadness that have built up over time. It is an effective decision that heightens the discomfort of these moments while reinforcing the literal communication barriers between the characters.
At its core, The High Road is a film about the consequences of emotional wounds left untreated. While the film focuses on a mother and daughter’s relationship, its appeal extends beyond that specific experience. Even those who cannot directly relate to the mother-daughter dynamic will likely recognise the universal feelings of disappointment, longing, and the desire for and difficulty of reconciliation.
The emotions at the centre of the narrative are so human, making the story accessible regardless of personal circumstance. Because of this, The High Road becomes more than just a story about one family. It becomes a reflection on how trauma shapes relationships and how difficult, yet necessary, it can be to face the past.
Honest, personal, and emotionally resonant, The High Road is a thoughtful film that lingers after its final moments. Inviting us to reflect on our own relationships and wounds that can often remain unhealed. Its willingness to sit in discomfort rather than provide simple resolutions is what makes the film so impactful and memorable.
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