Colin Farrell shares a hug with his son James in the trailer for THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH, a documentary about a friendship that carried the actor to the Dublin Marathon finish line.
“I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect,” Farrell said about James in a 2024 PEOPLE interview, as he launched a foundation in his son’s honor.
Now, viewers get another glimpse of that father-son bond. PEOPLE reported that the new trailer shows Farrell hugging James, who lives with Angelman syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder.
But this documentary reaches beyond Farrell’s home. It follows his longtime friend, disability rights advocate Emma Fogarty, as they take on a birthday challenge with a particularly personal finish.
HBO’s announcement explains that Farrell pushes Fogarty’s wheelchair for the marathon’s final four kilometers, one for each decade she has lived with epidermolysis bullosa, or EB. The condition causes her skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch.
Fogarty wanted to celebrate turning 40, an age doctors once believed she would never reach. The marathon gave her a way to mark that milestone alongside a friend willing to help her do it.
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According to the Irish EB charity Debra, Fogarty chose the challenge instead of a big birthday party and asked Farrell to join her. He agreed, and the pair decided to document the experience.
HBO describes a story that includes Fogarty’s daily pain, the dreams she has had to reconsider and the friendship that has shaped both their lives. Director and producer Rachel Fleit leads the documentary, with Farrell also among its producers.
For Farrell, the glimpse of James connects with concerns he described long before this trailer arrived. In his 2024 PEOPLE interview, he discussed the loss of support that families can face as children with intellectual disabilities grow into adulthood.
“Once your child turns 21, they’re kind of on their own,” Farrell told PEOPLE. He explained that young adults can lose educational supports just when they should be finding their place in the wider community.
He also spoke candidly about the decision to bring cameras into their lives. Because he could not determine whether James felt comfortable with the attention, Farrell said he had to make that choice based on his knowledge of his son.
And he described the work behind everyday accomplishments, including James learning to feed himself. Those moments mattered to the father as much as any public milestone.
“I’m proud of him every day, because I just think he’s magic,” Farrell said.
The Colin Farrell Foundation now identifies housing and day programs, workforce support for direct support professionals, and advocacy for funding and policy changes among its priorities. Its mission centers on individuals and families living with intellectual disability.
THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH brings the focus back to Fogarty and the people alongside her, with a father-son moment along the way. The documentary premieres Nov. 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will also stream on HBO Max.
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