Heels, whose history in mainstream society can be mapped back to the sixteenth century courts and male sartorial choices, have now become an indispensable parts of several women's wardrobe. Irrespective of practical concerns like pain and potentially adverse health effects, they remain a symbol of power, sexuality and confidence for innumerable women.
The documentary film is an exhaustive engagement with the same premise. Its subjects are far and wide across the spectrum - from social media influencers, designers to entrepreneurs to television presenters to even medical experts like podiatrists and chiropractors. The narrative brings in several voices that elucidate not only the historical and cultural significance of heels, but also the health aspect and the manner in which accidents and injuries in heel-wearers is on the rise in the US.
The medical professionals draw attention to concerns like hip and back problems, osteoarthritis and joint degeneration. There is also a discussion of the cultural aspect of wearing heels that has convinced women over millennia to subscribe to a standard which, for some, is inherently sexist and justifies the relationship between pain and an imagined idea of external beauty. However, the same opinions are then contrasted against those women who have claimed the heels as their own special weapon against the world. What the documentary does in the process is stay true to its nature of objectivity, simply presenting to you the information it has gained without opining or choosing sides.
Despite the lucidity of the arguments being made for or against the case of heels, the views do run the danger of becoming repetitive. Consequently, the narrative could have gained from a little more tautness, of both the edit as well as of the ideas being expressed. Having said that, however, the viewer would enjoy interacting with the many voices that make their presence felt in the documentary, in a confident, definitive manner.
Read LessThe documentary film is an exhaustive engagement with the same premise. Its subjects are far and wide across the spectrum - from social media influencers, designers to entrepreneurs to television presenters to even medical experts like podiatrists and chiropractors. The narrative brings in several voices that elucidate not only the historical and cultural significance of heels, but also the health aspect and the manner in which accidents and injuries in heel-wearers is on the rise in the US.
The medical professionals draw attention to concerns like hip and back problems, osteoarthritis and joint degeneration. There is also a discussion of the cultural aspect of wearing heels that has convinced women over millennia to subscribe to a standard which, for some, is inherently sexist and justifies the relationship between pain and an imagined idea of external beauty. However, the same opinions are then contrasted against those women who have claimed the heels as their own special weapon against the world. What the documentary does in the process is stay true to its nature of objectivity, simply presenting to you the information it has gained without opining or choosing sides.
Despite the lucidity of the arguments being made for or against the case of heels, the views do run the danger of becoming repetitive. Consequently, the narrative could have gained from a little more tautness, of both the edit as well as of the ideas being expressed. Having said that, however, the viewer would enjoy interacting with the many voices that make their presence felt in the documentary, in a confident, definitive manner.
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