Sonya (Jillian Mercado) is a heavily sought-after model in an incredibly competitive market. She has no time for dating, no room for mistakes, but one day she meets a man (Ben Cura), and her outlook on life begins to change. In a story about diversity and disability the phrase My Eyes Are Up Here plays a pivotal role–and Sonya is determined to do what is best for her, no matter what it takes.
My Eyes Are Up Here appears to want to do one thing and one thing only–express the importance of diversity and acceptance. It exists among endless other films and television shows that aim to do the same thing–but My Eyes Are Up Here is much more forward than a lot of other things that I’ve seen. It doesn’t really attempt to shove things in the faces of viewers, but it’s made clear throughout the course of the film that the point of it is to inspire acceptance and equality. Viewers are quickly able to understand what it is that Writers Arthur Meek and Aminder Virdee and Director Nathan Morris are trying to say–and they are articulate in their delivery.
Mercado is a force to be reckoned with–and I’m not speaking to the fact that she’s disabled. Take that aspect out of the equation, and she still commands each and every scene. Her voice is stern, powerful, clear–and her ability to express emotion is stellar. She’s everything that My Eyes Are Up Here needs in order to find success–and she delivers time and time again throughout the course of this short film. Simply put, Mercado is incredibly talented–and she’s the perfect person to lead My Eyes Are Up Here.
There’s a wonderful twist that exists throughout the entirety of the film. That’s sort of unique–because it’s not something that suddenly appears and then everyone is in the know. The twist plays out throughout the entire film, constantly keeping viewers on the edges of their seats–and it’s welcome. My Eyes Are Up Here shifts the expected narrative early, and it refuses to go back on anything that it says and does throughout. I believe that in order for My Eyes Are Up Here to have success, the story has to be unique–it can’t be like the numerous films that came before it. It is just that, unique. It finds a place in diversity-driven cinema that isn’t seen very often.
My Eyes Are Up Here has the potential to be another run-of-the-mill film about diversity and equality–the same old song and dance that we’ve seen endlessly over the course of the past ten or so years. However, the narrative is quickly altered in a way that allows viewers to appreciate what is being said and done. My Eyes Are Up Here becomes accessible because it’s honest, funny, cringey, and more. This short film is entertaining from beginning to end–and it’s just the right amount of pushy throughout its duration.
Directed by Nathan Morris.
Written by Arthur Meek & Aminder Virdee.
Starring Jilian Mercado, Ben Cura, Pooky Quesnel, Colin Hoult, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
