Parity Pipeline

Genre

Synopsis

Nine-year-old Jamal Sutherland Jr. is a wide-eyed and unassuming Jamaican boy living in rural Jamaica. He lives with his single hardworking mother Neesha in a small shanty house. Unbeknownst to his mom, Jamal is being bullied in school. He fights back and as a result is suspended for a week. His mom takes this opportunity to take Jamal into town to get his first passport. Jamal doesn’t know what’s going on, but thinks all the fuss is for his upcoming tenth birthday. He finds out his mom is sending him to live with his grandmother Verna in Toronto, Canada. A move that his mom thinks will propel Jamal into a life of success, but Jamal feels is a punishment. Under the weight of the decision, Jamal flees. He runs to his safe space, the grave of his father. He doesn’t understand why he is being sent away and this decision feels like it is turning his life upside down. He travels around his town saying goodbye to his friends, listening to their perspective of his move to the ever elusive, and admired foreign land. His best friend Deshane is Jamal’s last stop. He is surprisingly excited about his move to Canada and how Jamal’s life will change. Feeling bad about fighting with his mother, Jamal makes his way home, but is confronted by the school bully. He is robbed, beaten and left laying on the street. Jamal builds up his strength to go after the bully and take back his things, but in his pursuit is a witness to the bully’s accidental murder. Devastated and traumatized, Jamal makes his way back home realizing he also yearns for a better life, even if that means emigrating to Canada. The death of the bully and advice from his friends has changed Jamal’s outlook on life in Jamaica. With the help of his mother, Jamal packs up his whole world and takes the step into adulthood. Jamal and Neesha celebrate his tenth birthday, a final celebration in Jamaica before she drops off her only son to the airport. After an emotional send off, Jamal walks forward, back straight, head held high towards a new life. Once in Canada, Jamal is picked up by a family friend, Aldwayne. They journey to his new home in Toronto and for the first time he sees snow. They arrive in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood where he is united with his grandmother, Verna to start a ‘better life’.