The Christmas Shoes [DVD]

Inspired by the award winning song of the same name, this is a beautiful story and well worth watching. Although it deals with death and grieving, it is done with an acceptance and beauty that is so very loving. Yes, even the big macho guy named Bubba will need tissues to watch this one, because it touches the heart and the soul. The movie is 94 minutes in length, slightly more than 1 ½ hours. Although the story line takes place in a small town in Boston, Massachusetts during Christmas time, it was actually filmed in a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada in July! (BTW - I've been to Nova Scotia and it is beautiful there!). There's lots of real-looking snow in this movie, too. Special added features include interviews and a video of the hit song by the group New Song. Note that I have NOT read the book, so this review is based strictly on seeing the movie.

The movie begins with Robert Layton (Rob Lowe) visiting a grave. The snow is everywhere. He mentions that if we are open to it, the smallest of miracles can change our lives. (So true.)

Then we jump back a little in time and we meet Robert Layton, his wife Kate (Maria del Mar) and daughter Lily (Amber) as he is rushing to get to work. Robert is a workaholic lawyer who is looking for the material side of life (big house on snob hill). It's all about money with Robert. He is even pushing his wife to get a job so they can achieve all that money can buy even quicker. The Layton's have reached a time in their marriage where they are not communicating very well: Robert has stopped listening and stopped caring about the touchy-feely things in life. As Robert leaves the local coffee shop, a box of red shoes falls off a truck. He picks them up, intending to deliver them to the store they are addressed to. To Robert's defense, he is trying to help the local farmers keep their land from being taken away due to alleged environmental issues.

Driving down the street, Robert meets Maggie Andrews (Kimberly Williams) and son Nathan as she accidentally bounces a football off his car. Mr. Andrews is the local car mechanic. In school, Nathan's teacher Dalton Gregory (Dorian Harewood) reads a story about magic shoes. Wives Kate and Maggie meet at a school function, where Maggie is a volunteer working with the children's chorus in the music program. We soon find out that Maggie has progressive congestive heart failure.

Another really cool thing about this movie is that it illustrates synchronicity in life. It is amazing to observe how all the little puzzle pieces of life come together to intertwine these two families and events and bring about love and support at a time when it is needed the most.

I believe you will love this beautiful little movie. It would also make a nice Christmas stocking stuffer or addition to a gift basket, or a little "I'm thinking of you" gift for someone. It illustrates beauty and love in so many ways. If you are familiar with the song, it follows and expands on the story within the song.

Peace and love.

I loved this movie, and the song. At first, I listened to the song then watched
the film on YouTube.

It's so emotional when Maggie's telling Nathan she's going to Heaven, and the way
she tells it you have to hold back tears.

The most heartwarming scene is when Robert overcomes being self centered at the
store when Nathan doesn't have enough money for the dancing shoes and says his mom
will be going to Heaven. And when Robert pays for the shoes and goes to the house
where the kids, Dalton and Kate are all singing, he realizes you can't take people for granted like he did with his mother. And it's just a wonderful Christmas movie,
except for Maggie's failing heart.

And sometimes, it does take a miracle for us to realize how precious life is.