Shoebox
2019
In the midst of the housing crisis, a young single mother struggles to provide her charitable daughter with a more stable home than she had.
Charity begins at home. What does that mean if you don’t have one?
Chris (24) is a young single mother struggling to make ends meet. She’s living in emergency housing in a hotel with her energetic daughter, Jodie (8). It was only supposed to be a for a day or two but they’ve been here a month. Then Chris lands an interview for a job, that could improve their lot in life. Excited, she prepares and is distracted away from Jodie. Jodie has an assignment from school to fill a shoe box gift for a homeless girl. She tries to enlist Chris’s help but Chris is too
busy to properly engage.
On the way to school each day, they pass a homeless woman, MEL (40s), who sits in the same doorway. Chris never gives the woman glance but Jodie always wants to engage when Mel gives her a warm look. Mel is a recovering addict, trying to find her way off the streets.
Jodie hunts around the hotel room, looking for items for the shoebox and finds a doll with a note amongst Chris’s things. Jodie asks if she can give it to the Shoebox Girl but Chris flips out. This was a parting gift from Chris’s own mother, who put Chris into care at a young age. Chris has never known her but channelled her bitterness of abandonment into her love for Jodie. Chris will never give up, like her mother gave up on her.
The day of Chris’s interview is also the day Jodie must deliver her shoebox gift at school. But that day, Jodie is sick. Chris is torn, wanting to stay and look after Jodie but knowing that the interview could lead to a better life for them both. She decides to go for it and pledges to drop off the box for Jodie, which now includes the doll, placed in there by Chris by way of apology for flipping out.
Unfortunately, Chris’s interview doesn’t go well and because of a mix-up, misses dropping the shoebox off. Downtrodden, she returns to the hotel. Jodie suggests they give the box to the homeless lady they always pass. Mel, thankful, opens the box and sees the doll - she recognises it- she calls out to Chris to stop. Mel and Chris, mother and daughter, are reunited. They share a
shocked look and an uncertain future. Perhaps both can be there for each other now, like they were
never able to before?
busy to properly engage.
On the way to school each day, they pass a homeless woman, MEL (40s), who sits in the same doorway. Chris never gives the woman glance but Jodie always wants to engage when Mel gives her a warm look. Mel is a recovering addict, trying to find her way off the streets.
Jodie hunts around the hotel room, looking for items for the shoebox and finds a doll with a note amongst Chris’s things. Jodie asks if she can give it to the Shoebox Girl but Chris flips out. This was a parting gift from Chris’s own mother, who put Chris into care at a young age. Chris has never known her but channelled her bitterness of abandonment into her love for Jodie. Chris will never give up, like her mother gave up on her.
The day of Chris’s interview is also the day Jodie must deliver her shoebox gift at school. But that day, Jodie is sick. Chris is torn, wanting to stay and look after Jodie but knowing that the interview could lead to a better life for them both. She decides to go for it and pledges to drop off the box for Jodie, which now includes the doll, placed in there by Chris by way of apology for flipping out.
Unfortunately, Chris’s interview doesn’t go well and because of a mix-up, misses dropping the shoebox off. Downtrodden, she returns to the hotel. Jodie suggests they give the box to the homeless lady they always pass. Mel, thankful, opens the box and sees the doll - she recognises it- she calls out to Chris to stop. Mel and Chris, mother and daughter, are reunited. They share a
shocked look and an uncertain future. Perhaps both can be there for each other now, like they were
never able to before?
Trailer
CAST CREW
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Charleigh Bailey ... Chris Aenne Barr ... Clinic Worker Clara Calamai ... Jodie Hilda Fay ... Mel Ciara Goss ... Receptionist Matthew Ralli ... Brian |
Writer Carmel Callan Director Gary Duggan Producer Larry Cowan Sound Nikki Moss Editor Shane Woods Cinematographer Burschi Wojnar |
Festivals and Screenings
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Links
