Shoemaker

Running time: N/A

Everybody has a story, even the ordinary people we see every day all around us, despite the public's preoccupation with the "newsmakers" of society. But there aren't many films made about simple, unsophisticated people such as Of Mice and Men, or Paddy Chayevsky's Marty, whose themes bear some resemblance to this story. The charm of Shoemaker lies in its depiction of the life of a humble mentally challenged shoemaker. His only friend and advisor is his cynical partner, Paul, and his main interests are cooking and his pet fish. Carey is one of life's losers but stubbornly persists in hoping to find love. When Carey casually meets Anna at a vegetable stand, he shyly backs away from her invitation to coffee, only later to place a personal ad trying to find her. And find her he does. Anna is at loose ends, attracted by Carey's simplicity and shyness, while clearly recognizing his limitations. Paul tries to warn Carey about inevitable disappointment, but Carey is hungry to taste the delights of his only real romance. While the film is not a search for answers to life's problems, it raises genuine questions about the meaning of love and loneliness for those unable to play the world's games. --Ed Soohoo