KINKY BOOTS
Year: 2005
USA: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
UK: Buena Vista International UK
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Linda Bassett, Josh Cole, Joel Edgerton, Sarah Jane Potts, Nick Frost, Joe Grossi, Ewan Hooper, Robert Pugh, Jemima Rooper, Joanna Scanlon
Director: Julian Jarrold
Country: UK
USA & UK: 106 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for thematic material involving sexuality, and for language
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate sex references and one use of strong language
USA Release Date: 14 April 2006 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 7 October 2005 (Limited Release)
UK Distributor
Synopsis
With the sudden death of his father, Charlie Price (Joel Edgerton) takes up the reins of the family's traditional, Northampton shoe business - Price and Sons. But Charlie quickly discovers it is not business as usual and without new orders, bankruptcy looms. As a sceptical workforce debate their novice manager, Charlie looks to London for solutions, and in a chance encounter, discovers sassy cabaret star, Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor), whose Soho world of outrageous fashion and stylish, erotic boots for men, opens his eyes to an intriguing niche market, a long way from men's classic brogues.
With trepidation, but spurred on by feisty, factory worker Lauren (Sarah Jane Potts), Charlie enlists Lola's help to diversify and make erotic women's boots for a male market. But Lola's arrival at the provincial factory is greeted with ridicule and animosity, not least by Nicola. The hapless but lovable Charlie ploughs ahead with Lola, who hiding her own insecurities, takes charge of design and employs some of her show-stopping bravado to help win over the fractured workforce and bring the boots to life.
With only weeks to go until the crucial Milan Shoe Fair, the factory is in full swing with leopard skins and PVC replacing the bronzed suedes and shiny leather, but it is now Charlie's drive for perfection and success which threatens the production line and Milan. Finally the pressure gets to Charlie and he turns on Lola, loosing his biggest asset and ally on the eve of the Milan Shoe Fair.