'Off the Air' (2026)

A small slice-of-life indie feature, ‘Off the Air’ delivers the story of two estranged sisters Jo (Jillian Lyle) and Frankie (Ashlynn Jakeway). Being forced to come together after not speaking to each other for a number of years, Jo and Frankie have to decide what to do with their late father’s radio station.

Exploring a very intimate family history and specifically the relationship between the two sisters, ‘Off the Air’ provides an unexpected emotional payoff through its muted contemporary Americana atmosphere and dialled-back dialogue. Writer and director Adam Paul Stone has crafted a personal character study that focuses on two women at different points in their lives, trying to find a way forward and potentially back to each other.

Opening on old home videos that show Frankie’s first birthday, a much older Jo is shown holding her sister and the two enjoying the celebration. A little tired but effective, the opening of the feature showcases the ties between the two, making the imagery all the more impactful after we learn the two sisters have drifted apart.

Centred predominantly on Lyle’s Jo, the older sister is shown in the present day as a separated mother of one, working away at her dad’s old radio station. Running the place solo, she is accosted daily by a persistent realtor interested in buying the station. Battling with herself, Jo cannot decide on the best course of action going forward – should she sell the station and move on with her life, or stay and maintain her father’s legacy.

Deciding to reach out to Frankie, the two cross paths after years of silence. With Jo inviting Frankie to the station, Jo slowly reveals that she wants Frankie to sign the papers for the sale. Emotions erupt when Frankie blows up at Jo for only contacting her when she needs something and the two are yet again at odds with each other.

Examining the family history, a strained past is uncovered through the two sisters reminiscing about their parents and how they remember the family dynamic. Delivering sombre and emotional revelations, Lyle and Jakeway play beautifully off one another and ground their characters, letting the audience feel like there are years of pent-up emotions and resentment between the two characters, who still want to make things work between them as there is a strong undercurrent of familial love and a bond that refuses to be broken.

Not overtly saccharine or melodramatic, the feature zeroes in on Jo’s relationships with her sister, her ex-partner, her daughter and a local farmer. Through conversation it is made abundantly clear that there exists a sister-shaped hole in her heart that can no longer be ignored. Conversely, Frankie is also shown drifting through her early 20s, working as a photographer and failing to maintain lasting and important relationships in her life.

Wanting to repair the relationship the two sisters work their way through a lot of built-up perceptions, grievances and jealousies, eventually determining that they only have each other and that regardless of which way they lean regarding the sale of their father’s radio station, their best way forward can only be together.

Leaning into the stripped-back setting and focusing largely on private and muted conversations, ‘Off the Air’ lets viewers peer into the innermost workings of a family, letting us see how others have struggled and helps us understand and learn from their personal journeys. Without unnecessary theatrics, the film delves deep and examines a family dynamic that may be sad to acknowledge but proves to be very satisfying once Jo and Frankie manage to find their way back to each other.

Score: 4/4