THE CHRISTMAS SHOES
US, 2002, 90 minutes, Colour.
Rob Lowe, Kimberley Williams.
Directed by Andy Wolk.
The Christmas Shows is one of the many television movies over the decades made with a Christmas theme, to celebrate Christmas, to entertain the average American family. This film is stronger than most, although it ends with a very sentimental song about "Mummy meeting Jesus tonight", a reference to one of the central characters who needed a heart transplant, was unable to get one, and died in great dignity with her husband and her son. The Christmas shoes of the title were a gift that the son was able to give his mother before she died.
The film is well written and has Rob Lowe as the central character. He is a workaholic lawyer who wants more and more for his family, a better home, a better position at his legal firm where he is forced to take difficult cases (reminding audiences a bit of Erin Brockovich). He does not realise how much he is neglecting his wife and his daughter. He wants his wife to return to work. However, she is offered the opportunity to teach the Christmas choir (which was the work of the young mother who died). By ironies, the shoes of the title were found by the Rob Lowe character after they had dropped from a delivery van. He eventually returned them to the shop they were destined for. The young boy of the dying mother was able then to buy the shoes for his mother only with the help of Rob Lowe who was behind him in the queue when the young boy didn't have enough money. It is only fifteen years later, visiting his mother's grave, that he sees the young boy grown up visiting his mother's grave and he realises what has happened. A very pleasing film with family and Christmas overtones.
1. The popularity of telemovies with Christmas themes? Geared for the popular American family audience? Travelling overseas?
2. The small town, homes and streets, shops, the legal firm, schools? An authentic atmosphere? The musical score, the Christmas carols, the final song with its more country and western sentimental style?
3. The title, as explained by Robert, the miracle that he described as he visited his mother's grave at Christmas, saw the young man, remembered the story of the shoes, his finding them, returning them, the young boy buying them, his helping out with the money? His realisation of who the young man was and what had happened? Transforming his life?
4. The old theme of the workaholic father who neglected his family? Robert, the plans for the new house, the phone calls and the better bids, his exasperation, his compulsion to stay at the office, doing research, snapping at his secretary? Meeting the people for whom he was working, the pollution of the water, the death of the fish? Their supporting him at meetings, explaining to Kate how well he had served them? Yet his missing the concert, the alienation from Kate, the distance from Lily, trying to make up to her? His wanting his wife to work? The chance encounter with Maggie and Nathan when the ball hit his car? The irony of his taking his car to Jack, dissatisfaction with the service? The kindly help from the store manager? Helping him again at Christmas to get to the carol-singing? His having to face the meaning of his life, his generosity with Nathan and the shoes, listening to the carols, joining in? The reconciliation with Kate and with Lily?
5. Kate, devoted to her husband, her daughter, not working? Not wanting to go back to work? Her love for Robert, his distancing himself? Missing the concerts? Her going to the appointment, Lily's anger and leaving her music book, Kate going to the school, being offered the job, accepting it, her treatment of the children, their singing, her discussions with Maggie about life and about death? Taking the children to sing from door to door? Her joy when Robert came to listen to the carols? Lily and her singing, her discussions with her father, the need for parental presence?
6. The story of Maggie, Jack and Nathan? The throwing the ball on the street, Maggie's illness, Jack and his work at the garage and Robert's rejection of his work? His devotion to his wife, her illness, his pride at the concert? The possibility of the heart transplant, the call, going to Boston, the heart having hepatitis, the lost opportunity? Going home, Maggie and the preparation for her death, helping Jack to let go, helping Nathan understand, the discussions about death, Heaven? Nathan, his slack work at school, his friendship with Dalton and being able to stay with him, Dalton as a father figure, driving him home, helping him collect the cans to get the money for the shoes? The friendship with Robert's mother, her giving him the cap, giving him good advice? His buying the shoes, desperation, Robert's help? At the cemetery fifteen years later? The portrait of death, the young parent, the effect on each member of the family?
7. Robert's mother, her wisdom, her advice to him to make memories rather than money? The friendship with Dalton? Leaving the gift of the lunchbox with the letter inside? Robert's discovering it only after her death? Dalton finding her dead? The funeral?
8. Dalton, his work at the school, retiring, friendship with Nathan, support of Lily, with Robert's mother? His care of Nathan?
9. The themes of Christmas, self-giving, life and death? A moving account of American families, crises, people being transformed for the better?
