Plot Summary

The Cobbler follows Max Simkin, a modest shoemaker who has spent his entire life running the family shoe repair shop passed down through generations. Trapped in a monotonous routine, Max secretly dreams of escaping his dull existence to see the world beyond his small neighborhood.

Everything changes when Max discovers an old machine left behind by his father—an unusual device with magical properties. When he repairs a customer’s shoes using the machine and wears them himself, Max suddenly transforms into the person who owns those shoes.

At first, this extraordinary ability feels liberating and entertaining. Slipping into different identities allows Max to experience lives far removed from his own and momentarily escape his frustrations.

However, as Max begins abusing this power, the boundaries between curiosity and recklessness blur. His actions draw him into dangerous situations, unexpected moral dilemmas, and conflicts far beyond his control.

Through humor and fantasy, the film explores themes of identity, empathy, and self-acceptance, ultimately questioning whether becoming someone else can truly fulfill the desire to escape oneself.