Bolan's Shoes

A really strong debut for director Ian Puleston-Davies, it's a really emotional film that contains a lot of heavy subject matter. Deals with guilt, violence, mental illness and other serious topics, hitting it spot on with most. Performances by Timothy Spall and Leanne Best shine in particular as the two siblings, and the film works in the T Rex soundtrack really nicely. It has some really funny moments mainly from Timothy Spall, and Leanne Best manages to paint a picture of extreme guilt and regret in a heartrending performance.

Ultimately, Bolan's Shoes is a touching and stylish debut that deserves high praise!

Refreshing is the word that comes to mind after watching Bolan's Shoes. A great story, beautifully told with amazing acting, good music and fab pictures. Despite touching some difficult topics, it's definitely a feel-good movie showing that love will always win and, in some cases, can indeed keep us alive.

Amidst the tones of films including big Hollywood budget productions available on different streaming services, 'Bolan's Shoes' was like a breath of fresh air. I can't remember when I last watched a film and thought I'd like to watch it again the moment it had finished.

And Leanne Best was simply amazing! I can't wait to watch it again.

Heart-warming as well as clever. Bolan's Shoes is a gem of a film that keeps your interest throughout. Yes, there's lots of wonderful T-Rex and Marc Bolan links, but it's the sensitivity of the characters and their stories that keep you focussed on what is really emerging in this beautiful production.

Congratulations to Terri Dwyer & Ian Puleston-Davies for their light touch on a heavy subject: childhood trauma & ripple effect consequences. The minimal dialogue in key scenes was genius.

Superb casting throughout - it's an absolute winner for Leanne Best, Timothy Spall and Mark Lewis Jones. Brilliant selection of the younger selves too.

BAFTA will undoubtedly notice this film for many good reasons. Well done to all at Buffalo Dragon.

Such an original and charming film, and of course the music is fantastic. Both my husband and I loved it. Within the first ten minutes, I laughed out loud many times and also shed a few tears. It was hard to stop grinning, despite the serious interludes. The casting is brilliant. Timothy Spall's performance is riveting and Leanne Best is wonderful as well as fluid in her character. Mark Lewis Jones is always great and you can't take your eyes off him in this role. The directing is terrific - even the whole look of the movie changes as you go back and forth in time. While the humor, kindness and relationships are captivating, of course the music was king. Coming on the heels of seeing "A Complete Unknown" I felt spoiled to be seeing another great film with so much great music. And especially one that shows the power of music to heal, to bring joy, to move you, to define you. And the end was nothing short of breathtaking. Absolutely terrific. Although we initially rented it, we went back and purchased it because we can't wait to watch it again!

Many years after a fatal road accident affected her own family, Marc Bolan super-fans "Penny" (Leanne Best) and her pal "Steffan" (Dylan Dwyfor) head to the site of Bolan's own fatality where there is to be a quietly reflective memorial on the 75th anniversary of his death by a few other stalwarts. It turns out that this site is maintained by an odd looking gent, "Jimmy" (Timothy Spall) - who wouldn't look out of place playing guitar in "Slade, and who upon seeing "Penny" promptly has some sort of fit. It turns out that they have a great deal more in common than you might expect and as the story unfolds we learn a little more about their own trauma and just how it affected the relationship and their lives. Now, aside from them all having attended a T-Rex concert back in the day, meeting the band and acquiring a pair of his glamorous shoes, this film really has very little to do with the legendary musician. It's a melodrama about a family that has faced and struggled to come to terms with tragedy, mental illness and denial - and though it's not bad, it's not especially unique nor interesting either. The ending is quite touching, though - and it will look fine as a gently engaging vehicle for Spall on the television at Christmas.