KINKY BOOTS

UK, 2005, 107 minutes, Colour.
Joel Edgerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sarah- Jane Potts, Jemina Roper, Linda Bassett, Nick Frost, Robert Pugh.
Directed by Julian Jarrold.

An entertainingly feelgood film from the UK which leads its audience into familiar and unfamiliar worlds, makes them laugh and suggests tolerance and understanding. Perhaps clues to describe it could be ‘a 21st century version of an Ealing Studios factory comedy via Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Full Monty’!

Two British worlds collide and co-operate. The first is the shoe factory world of Northhampton which has fallen on hard times (especially with cheap imports from Eastern European countries). The second is the world of London’s Soho clubs, especially those that feature Drag Queen performances. How do they come together? Through Kinky Boots.

Many audiences will empathise with the changed economic conditions in the UK’s manufacturing industries which lead to layoffs and redundancies. One of the answers is to find different niche markets. When Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) tries to defend a woman being attacked in a London lane, he finds he has come to the rescue of Lola, who sings at a local club. Her stiletto heels can’t support her weight distribution. So, Northhampton moves into production of elaborate boots for transvestites and drag queens.

This is a 12A film with hardly a swear word, so the treatment of the themes is mild and benign. Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is really Simon who had many problems with his gender and his father’s rejection. Ultimately, he finds a place designing in the factory. Charlie had problems being expected to fulfil his kindly father’s dreams. Kindred spirits, despite some heavy prejudice on the part of Charlie (and even more so from his fiancee), they are able to understand each other and work together.

There are plenty of flamboyant songs and choreography, especially for a grand finale showing off the boots in the Priscilla vein. There are many scenes of factory workers plying their craft, proud of their manufacturing skills. In this sense, the film is a win-win film (except for Charlie’s success-oriented fiancee – but there is a loyal worker who can take her place). It is very cheerful. It is funny, with some pathos – and hope.

1.A glimpse of contemporary England – via the comedies of Ealing Studios of the 1950s? Working class, factories? Ordinary people? Comic, social comment?

2.The title and the kinky boots of fashions of the 1960s? The film based on a true story?

3.The prologue, Simon in Clacton, the shoes, dancing, his stern father and his commands? The contrast with Northampton, Charlie and his father, the questions, the answer always being shoes? The film later taking up the theme of father-son relationships, love or not? Their wanting their sons not to stand out but to fit in?

4.The Soho settings, the clubs, the transvestites, the queens and the drag? Visual style? Costumes, décor, the performances? The singing, the choreography? The range of songs for Lola – illustrating her character and the situation? Lola’s style? The audiences in the club?

5.Audience reaction to the clubs, to Lola? The response of the audience like that of Charlie, bewilderment, engagement, criticism, change of heart? Or like Nicola and her condemnation? Or like the staff – bewildered, jokes, sympathy? The background of such films as The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Tu Wong Fu(?)?

6.Northampton, the details of the factory, Mr Price, his words to the staff, farewelling Charlie to London, his hopes, Charlie not fitting in and going to study marketing, his relationship with Nicola, looking at the house in London?

7.Mr Price’s death, the effect? His photos of the office? The layout of the office and it being like an attic? The funeral? Charlie discovering the documents about the contracts, later learning that his father wanted to sell the factory? Going to London to sell the excess shoes? The encounter with Lola being bashed, his being hit, going to the club, discovering the boots, Lola’s explanation of their flimsiness, his explanation of the distribution of male weight and the need for shoes to support it?

8.The factory, the redundancy interviews, Charlie and his being hurt having to sack people? Rick and Nicola, the discovery about the selling of the factory? Charlie looking at the layout – and realising he could not sell?

9.Lauren, in the workforce, the confrontation when she was to be sacked? Ideas for niche markets, going to London with Charlie, seeing Lola? Her relationship with the staff, her devotion, Lola pointing out that she was always defending Charlie? Her telling Nicola about the mortgage? Handling the crises, going to Milan, the final kiss?

10.Charlie and his initial speech, not turning the microphone on? Lola’s arrival, his reaction, wanting to hide her? The staff all hearing their conversation? Lola’s designs? Working hard, aiming for the show in Milan, his perfectionist ideals and demands on the staff? The friendship with Simon, their discussion in the toilet, their explanation of their past? Success, production? The staff coming back to work for Milan? The restaurant sequence, the clash with Simon in the street, his blunt telling him what he thought? Finding Nicola’s shoe? His anger, Rick? Going to Milan, the phone apology? Going on the catwalk with the boots? Lola and the boys’ arrival? The kiss for Lauren?

11.Don and Lola, Lola sitting on his knee, his discovery that Lola was a man? His continued jibes, the confrontation, the arm-wrestling, Lola letting him win, his having to change his attitude towards someone – and hearing the discussion about the mortgage and changing his mind on Charlie? Getting the staff back to work?

12.George, the veteran, his idea of how to make the boots? Mel, her toughness, exasperation with Charlie? The big man discussing with Lola what femininity was? The workplace, the range of workers, their learning how to make the boots, learning to accept Lola, the finale in the club?

13.The two worlds meeting, ordinary factory workers and the drag queens? Lola as Simon, his frank talk with Charlie, changing into men’s clothes, working, his exuberance and dancing, getting the staff to dance? His fears, the scenes of the memories of his father? His being hurt by Charlie’s bluntness?

14.The crisis, the big display in Milan, the happy ending?

15.The film’s feelgood approach, its praise of people with craft, the workers? Social comment for the 21st century?