This weekend’s upcoming Bowen Island Film Society screening is Kinky Boots.
"Kinky Boots" tells the truth-based story [www.divine.co.uk/ -- caution, do not open link at work] of a provincial shoe factory on the brink of collapse resurrecting itself by switching from making Oxfords for civil servants to stiletto-heel boots for cross-dressers. [This is known as identifying an unoccupied niche in the market]. While on a business trip to London, factory owner Charlie (Joel Edgerton) stumbles down a dark alley and meets Simon (Chiwetel Ejiofor), also known as Lola, a drag queen and cabaret star who heads his own revue. Lola breaks a heel, a lightbulb goes off in Charlie's head, and soon Simon is off to small-town England to counsel Charlie on the art of making hot, strong footwear for men.
‘Transvestism in the movies is rarely a pretty sight, so full marks to Ejiofor for making the character of Simon/Lola so well-rounded and uncaricatured.
‘The picture never drags. It includes plenty of character color from the femme workforce. The picture’s climax, at the really big Milan fashion shew, gives the picture a visual boost, and an upbeat coda, set to "Yes Sir I Can Boogie," delivers the full monty.
‘It's no surprise to learn that Kinky Boots is from the same team who gave us Calendar Girls. Slick and impossible to dislike, it also presents a side of provincial British life rarely seen nowadays: that of the frustrated dreamer. Australian actor Edgerton does just enough to convince as a Midlander, but this is ultimately Ejiofor's parade. He takes you beneath Lola's sequins and delivers one of the best performances of the year.’ – Adrian Hennigan, BBC Reviews
Kinky Boots screens on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 7:30 pm at Collins Hall. The running time is 1 hour and 46 minutes. Rated PG 13 [Contains moderate sex references and one use of strong language]. As always, facilities for the hearing impaired will be available. Bring your own pillow to improve seating comfort. Doors and concession open at 7 pm. Reserved tickets are available for film society members only by phoning 604-947-0450 and will be held until 7:15 pm. Ten percent of all door admissions are donated to the Bowen Island Community Hall and Arts Centre fund. For further information, Bowen Island Film Society membership forms are available at the Ruddy Potato, VONIGO and the Office at Artisan Square.
- Michael Epp
