Eddy’s Kingdom, directed by Greg Compton, documents the eccentric and obsessive life of Eddy Haymour. Haymour immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 1970, managed to make a tidy sum of money as an entrepreneur, bought an island, and attempted to turn it into a Moroccan-themed amusement park. There are still relics, to this day, of Haymour’s fantastical vision on Rattlesnake Island in Okanagan Lake. Now 90 years old, video interviews of Haymour and the people who have surrounded him bring this documentary to life.
Haymour lost his island—although he would say it was taken from him—and has been trying to get it back ever since. He’s charming, confident, and seems to have a kind heart, but over the course of his life he has been called a terrorist, a kidnapper, and a hostage-taker. It would be an understatement to say Haymour is a controversial figure, and there are plenty of conflicting testimonies in the film that paint him in opposing lights. The documentary presents all sides of the story through an unbiased lens, which allows the viewer to draw their own conclusions.
Haymour is an enigma wrapped inside an enigma, but ultimately it becomes clear that what he really wants is a legacy: he wants to make a lasting impact that will survive him when he’s gone. In a strange way, he achieved that legacy through this documentary, but at what cost? Haymour has said that he believes family is the most important thing, but we see him lose his family not once, not twice, but three times because of his delusions.
If nothing else, we can learn from Haymour’s mistakes and choose family over fame or fortune. Eddy’s Kingdom is a fascinating film about a man obsessed with immortalizing himself and his dream. Is he too obsessed? Maybe, but I guess you’ll just have to watch the film and decide for yourself.