THE MAN WITH RAIN IN HIS SHOES

Victor Bukowski (Douglas Henshall) is an out-of-work actor with a lousy agent and a chronic communication problem with directors. His life is lurlher complicated by the fact that he is still in love with his ex-girlfriend Sylvia (Lena Headey), who's set to marry tomorrow. Desperate, Victor shames himself by slashing his rival's tires, pouring his heart out to anyone who will listen and falling out with Sylvia's best friend. A chance encounter with an aspiring novelist, Louise (Penelope Cruz), leads to a magical emotional journey after which all Victor wants is to go back to that warm afternoon when he ruined everything with Salvia.

The Man with Rain in His Shoes is a romantic comedy which twists and turns at almost every change of scene. Spanish writer Rafa Russo, mixing realism and fantasy, was inspired by the mystical possibility of being able to travel back in time and do things over in a different way. First time director, María Ripoll, found in London the ideal setting: "The contrasting faces of the city are quite wonderful. I hope the result will be a very different view of the city". Ultimately though, reminiscent of the New York-based delight Moonstruck, the film's themes are universal.

"It's a film about human feelings, about regret, doubt... But the magic is also important and makes it special. It's about not carrying the weight of the past and about learning to let go." - María Ripoll

María Ripoll trained as a film director at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles in 1990-1. She has made several short films, including Kill Me Later, which was awarded at the Houston Film Festival in 1993. Ripoll has written three feature-length scripts, and makes her debut as a feature director with The Man with Rain in His Shoes.