Long Synopsis
Introverted and shy child, Tommy (Jackson Tessmer), is sitting silent on a couch attempting to correctly tie his shoes with his father, Ben (Jonathan Raffoul), kneeled down in front of him. Tommy fails to tie his shoe correctly and is saddened, but Ben empathizes and encourages Tommy’s spirits up. Suddenly a knock sounds from the front door. Ben gets up and opens the door revealing his ex-wife, and Tommy’s biological mother, Heather (Lauren Reilly), who is texting on her phone not looking at Ben. After holding a tense conversation at the door Heather demands Ben come outside. Ben turns around at the door to find Tommy standing behind him in the living room. Ben tells Tommy that he will be back and exits the doorway, closing the door behind him.
Soon after, Tommy walks into the kitchen and sees, Ben and Heather, having what appears to be a viscous argument in the driveway. While watching them argue, Tommy looks down to his shoe and attempts to tie his laces. He fails at his first attempt, then looks up and see’s Ben pointing at the house as the argument continues to escalade. Tommy continues to attempt to tie his shoes, forming a correct knot as the argument intensity decreases. Tommy then hears a car door slam outside, and looks up to see Heather speeding away from the house.
Ben turns around and walks back to reenter the house. Once inside he notices Tommy in the kitchen. Tommy notices his fathers shoe is untied before Ben notices him. They look at each other for a moment before Ben walks into the living room and sits on the couch. Tommy walks into the living room and stops in front of Ben, remaining silent. Ben notices Tommy and leans up to tell him that, “Mom just can’t play this month, but she’s really sorry”, and then leans back onto the couch covering his face. Tommy leans down and begins to tie Ben’s shoes. After tying the not he looks up to Ben and tells him, “Don’t be sad, Daddy. Everything’s going to be okay”. With watery eyes, Ben moves down to the floor as the two hold a strong embrace with each other.
Short Synopsis
Introverted and shy child, Tommy (Jackson Tessmer), is sitting silent on a couch attempting to correctly tie his shoes with his father, Ben (Jonathan Raffoul), kneeled down in front of him. Tommy struggles to tie his shoes as a knock sounds from the door by the hand, Heather (Lauren Reilly), his biological mother, and Ben’s ex wife. Ben walks outside to have an argument with, Heather, away from Tommy. Tommy walks to the kitchen window and watches the argument unfold outside, unknown to his parents. While watching the argument, Tommy attempts to tie his shoes but fails at it as the argument continues to escalade. As the intensity of the argument begins to decrease, Tommy ties his first successful knot just before hearing a car door slam and looking up to see his mother speeding away from the house leaving, Ben, alone in the driveway. After his father reenters the house, Tommy notices that Ben’s shoe is untied without him realizing. Tommy walks over to, Ben; tie’s his shoe for him and tells him that everything is going to be ok. With a small but genuine smile and watery eyes, Ben lovingly hugs, Tommy, as the two remain silent with one another.
Shoelaces, is a story of empathy, compassion, and the resilience of the human spirit. I wanted to make a film that really captured just how strong people can be when they come together. It was my goal to convey the message that we are all like shoelaces themselves. We can all be weak and malleable, but it is when we unite with those we care about that our weaknesses become strengths, and we become as strong as knots.