Shoes

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Nick M I didn't need another reason to appreciate director Lois Weber, but she gave it to me anyway. This is equal in stature to her 1913 film, Suspense; I can't say which film I appreciate more. The story, an adaptation of a short story that was itself an adaptation from a book, was deftly translated for the screen by Weber, lovingly directed, and sensitively portrayed by all of the actors. Mary MacLaren is consummately sympathetic in the leading role, and the character of the mother, played by Mattie Witting, was expertly handled so that we understood her love for her daughter despite her inability to provide her with the one thing she most desperately needed. We can see her being pulled in every direction, the pressure she is under, and the tenuous balance she is just managing to maintain between it all. Spinning a relatable narrative in order to shed light on social injustice has always been an effective technique. Centering that narrative around such a simple need as a new pair of shoes... I cannot think of a single critical thing to say about this picture. I was invested from start to finish, and as always, Weber used particular cinematic devices to enhance the narrative with such skill and artistry that I find myself trying to burn certain moments into my brain: most notably the double exposure transition from old-new-old shoes to demonstrate just how worn they were at exactly the most impactful opportunity, and the haunting moment with the mirror. And the sets and staging! This was the kind of movie where you forget that you are watching a bit of theater and feel that you are getting a glimpse of a real family, and a real tragic episode in their lives. This is how you do a social commentary film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/04/24 Full Review Audience Member Shoes 1916 was recently discovered by the Eye Film Institute in the Netherlands in 2008 & was recently restored....a beautiful treasure that is now 101 years old. A moving drama about a young woman Eve who works & provides for her whole family & dreams of a better life & a pair shoes since her's falling apart. The beauty of this film lies in its simplicity & tenderness the shoes are like a symbol for her poverty. Directed by one of the first major female filmmakers Lois Weber. This is a beautiful & emotionally charged film. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Shoes

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