Salvatore: Shoemaker Of Dreams

* * * Stars - Rating G - 2021 - Comedy/Romance - 109 min) In the early 20th century impoverished teenage Italian cobbler Salvatore Ferragamo sailed from Naples to America to seek a better life. He settled in Southern California and became Hollywood's go-to shoemaker during the silent era. In 1927 he returned to Italy and founded in Florence his namesake luxury brand. This feature-length documentary recounts his adventures. Cast: Salvatore Ferragamo (archive footage) Michael Stuhlbarg (voice) Manolo Blahnik Release date: 1 December 2022 Official Trailer Review 6.4/10 IMDB 75% TOMATOMETER 67% AUDIENCE SCORE Even if he couldn't summon the experience of walking in Ferragamo's shoes and getting to know him deeply Guadagnino makes one appreciate the shoemaker's indelible footprints from afar. -Carlos Aguilar It's difficult not to fall under the glamorous sway of the stars who wore Ferragamo's shoes: Gloria Swanson Greta Garbo Mary Pickford Joan Crawford Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn among them. -Robert Denerstein The film shines while showing his early immigrant story and there's an infectious Forrest Gump-type joy to this tale of a simple man rubbing elbows with fame. -Ray Gill Jr. While Shoemaker of Dreams lags somewhat in the biographical bits it finds its footing thanks to researcher Giuppy D'Aura's confidence with the interviewees. -Pat Mullen Guadagnino's carefully and lovingly detailed history lesson free of stylistic flourishes is as satisfying and methodical as that red shoe-making -Dave White