Where God Left His Shoes (2007)

64% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(387 ratings)

After months of living in an inner-city homeless shelter, Frank Diaz (John Leguizamo) receives an opportunity to get an apartment for his family on Christmas Eve. When Frank learns that he must first provide proof of employment before taking occupancy, he and his stepson set out to find the job that… More After months of living in an inner-city homeless shelter, Frank Diaz (John Leguizamo) receives an opportunity to get an apartment for his family on Christmas Eve. When Frank learns that he must first provide proof of employment before taking occupancy, he and his stepson set out to find the job that could become the first step in a whole new life. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Salvatore Stabile
Written By: Salvatore Stabile
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Apr 27, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Nov 3, 2009
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
Writer-director Salvatore Stabile keeps his affecting story hurtling forward with such grit and integrity it's easy to forgive its loaded setup and occasional lapses in detail and logic.
David Edelstein, New York Magazine
The acting, the on-the-fly atmosphere (the film was shot quickly), and Leguizamo's increasingly urgent hustle are deeply evocative, but parts of the movie are almost too painful to endure.
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
Stabile, a Brooklyn native with a resume in TV production, knows how to line up a permit and scout out perfect South Brooklyn Italian manors and melancholic intersections. He gets interesting scenes, too.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Writer-director Salvatore Stabile has a good eye for the details of hard-luck ordinariness, and he sketches believable family bonds with a minimum of flourish.
Sarah Sluis, Film Journal International
A neorealist glimpse of a father trying to find a job on Christmas Eve, with a magnetic performance by David Castro in the role of his son.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
you won't get much out of Where God Left His Shoes other than an appreciation of the fact that you have a home for the holidays.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
Although the situation feels slightly contrived... the script is bang on.
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
With a more organic and imaginative screenplay, Where God Left His Shoes could have been much more emotionally resonating and powerful.
Christian Toto, PajamasMedia
Where God Left His Shoes is a holiday miracle - a gritty tale about homelessness that's neither sappy nor sentimental
Matt Noller, Slant Magazine
If you could cut all the music from Where God Left His Shoes, you might actually have a solid family drama.
Drew Toal, Time Out New York
This film needs more than God's Nikes to resonate with an already economically downtrodden filmgoing populace.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas J

John Leguizamo and David Castro bring POWER to their roles as father and step-son. I have always enjoyed John Leguizamo's acting, but this role soon John is forgotten and he is Frank Diaz. David Castro turns on the crocodile tears in one seen that marks this kid for great… More
John Leguizamo and David Castro bring POWER to their roles as father and step-son. I have always enjoyed John Leguizamo's acting, but this role soon John is forgotten and he is Frank Diaz. David Castro turns on the crocodile tears in one seen that marks this kid for great things to come! John and David show they can handle the roles and I hope to see more of both in the future... both should be Oscar bound! The ending is so not Hollywood and it is what makes me love this movie even more!! One review below says it better than I can, "it does not pour on the saccharine", thanks Peter Gula... that is a great way to express this movie.
Erin C

Such a touching movie. I didn't like the ending, but it had a good story. Leguizamo was awesome, as was the little boy who played his stepson.