More than just a story about hot shoes for "men, women, and those who haven't decided yet," this movie is about embracing the true self - whoever that is. Billed as a "How far would you go to save the family business?" sort of film, you know that Charlie Price will at some point find himself desperate and will turn to what is thought of as a deviant lifestyle niche to save his company. What is unexpected, or rather "who", is Lola aka. Simon.
Lola is the transvestite expression of Simon. S/he is a perfomer in a nightclub and needs sexy footwear that will support the full weight of a man. S/he is also a choreographer and designer. The design elements of talents will bring her to Northampton where he dresses as Simon to avoid making the suburban locals uncomfortable. At first, this is very difficult because he feels so little like himself in a pair of jeans and flats, without any lipstick. Charlie is encouraging and they learn to respect each other as they work together.
In the end, it isn't Lola that needs to accept herself, it is Charlie. Both men have grown up under the weight of their father's expectations and find themselves facing fears and dreams while deciding what living with integrity means for them.
This movie is truly well done. Using what the world may generally see as an extreme lifestyle choice in juxtaposition to a "normal" life facing the same issues of being true to oneself, made their success even more of a triumph in the end.
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