High on Heels: A Film Review
By Jessica Wise
From the filmmaker: “High heels are an experience for women. Today, heels have come to represent many things for many women like beauty, sexuality, sophistication, empowerment, maturity, style, and professionalism. This documentary film explores this dynamic and examines the subtle yet popular accessory both men and women take for granted. An in-depth look into the historical significance of the high-heeled shoe will parallel an in-depth look at the health factors that come with wearing them. As a conversational piece, the symbolism, evolution and lifestyle trend of the high heel are expressed by shoe designers, stylists, dancers, models, fashion bloggers, influencers, doctors, and everyday women.”
It is my pleasure to review High on Heels, a DocuJourney production. Filmed solely in Atlanta, Georgia, this documentary features local entrepreneurs, influencers, reporters, shoemakers, entertainers, and academics who discuss the evolution of high heel culture from its popularization by King Louis XIV to its presence in the rise of heeled dance classes. In less than an hour, director Adelin Gasana captures the high heel’s appearance in history, the workplace, the runway, science, and femininity.
I sat down to watch this documentary with ice cream in hand, expecting it to be another exploration of one of the many things women do for beauty in the eyes of men. I was both pleasantly surprised and entertained by a film that did the opposite. Gasana takes the time to listen to women themselves, highlighting experienced heel-wearers and fashion experts of diverse ethnicities, sizes, and ages. The only male appearance was that of a master cobbler. The fourth wall also remains intact for the most part, with production only being acknowledged briefly while filming at a Black female-owned modeling school for girls. This is unusual for most documentaries, which tend to work from the POV of the director. Gasana’s choice to give space and a mic to the women who walk in heels everyday allows for a more genuine narrative and avoids any problematic bias that comes with the male gaze.
““Heels are great for us. I feel like if we never slid on a pair of heels, our lives would just suck. And you would never feel elevated.””
While that was my favorite aspect of this film, it was not the only element that made it unique. Atlanta’s local artisans also had the opportunity to shine, with appearances by professors of the Savannah College of Art & Design’s SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film and a brief look at the exhibition itself. Heeled dance professionals and pole dance teachers also had the opportunity to give their points of view on how the high heeled shoe fueled their passions and careers. The repair of the shoe even has its own Atlanta roots, as master cobbler and business owner Byron recounts his journey in the industry, beginning with sweeping floors and cleaning shoes under the mentorship of his father. Linda Pearl Fils-Aime trains her students in high heels at the Pearl School of Modeling, where the heel is a rite of passage for students coming of age. These are just a few of the various, Atlanta-local businesses and professions that take the stage in this film.
Another unique detail that resonated with me was the multiple cameos of the heels themselves. Hundreds of pumps, block heels, strappies, wedges, and stilettos danced across the screen during this 45-minute adventure into the shoe-niverse. The viewer will never see the same shoe twice, a subtle reminder as to just how complex this industry is, contrary to the popular belief of misogynists and the very inherently misogynistic views that generalize or put down women’s fashion. It cannot be diluted to just one thing, just like women and womanhood cannot be diluted to just one layer. From the cobbler, to the designer, to the influencer, to the consumer, and even to the podiatrist, this is an industry that benefits all and stimulates an entire economy and culture that cannot be overlooked.
I would like to see a sequel to this in the future. Perhaps a dive into church fashion or even the drag communities that have their own high heel culture! Well done, Mr. Gasana and crew!
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