Every family has its secrets. Pretending otherwise has kept households together since the beginning of time. Parents hide things from their children, and vice versa, and spouses say nothing in their vows about speaking the truth. In Stew Peas, one family has its bonds tested when its new helper begins to expose cracks in its foundation.

Written and directed by Sosiessia Nixon-Kelly, Stew Peas is the latest addition to the library of Jamaican cinema. The family of main characters is played by several first-time actors, including social media influencer Kerry-Ann ‘Chiney K’ Collins, playing the matriarch Tessa, who doubles as the lead detective in the film’s murder conspiracy.

Tessa’s character examines the role of a mother and wife who dares to have a career of her own. Her devotion to her work is met with disdain by her family, who would rather she learn to cook a decent meal, even as she works through the trauma of losing her closest friend. It’s a role with many dimensions, and Collins plays it with class.