TailorShop (2021) - An Award-Winning Short Film

Added: 2026-06-04

[00:01:25][music] [music] >> You don't look like you're from around here.

[00:01:55]Let me guess. Can I guess?

[00:01:58]Dark hair, dark eyes, you are from Turkey. No.

[00:02:06]No.

[00:02:09]Spain.

[00:02:11]No, obviously not.

[00:02:13]Um Well, you're not from Sweden.

[00:02:18]Um um oh You're Greek.

[00:02:24]You're from Greece.

[00:02:26]>> I am from Italy.

[00:02:29]>> Italy.

[00:02:30]You know, that's one of the few places I haven't been, but from what my friend Well, my former friend, you know, the funny thing is is that she had an Italian boyfriend when she was there. She would tell me the craziest stories about him. Apparently, the guy was head over heels for her.

[00:02:47]I always wondered if I'd like that in a man.

[00:02:51]Must be true what they say about Italians.

[00:03:02]How long have you been here?

[00:03:05]>> Here at what?

[00:03:06]>> How long have you been here in America?

[00:03:09]>> Oh, um next month will be 5 years.

[00:03:14]>> 5 years.

[00:03:16]Must feel like a lifetime.

[00:03:22]So, tell me.

[00:03:25]You are the American dream.

[00:03:28]>> [laughter] >> Yes, I some dream I'm living.

[00:03:36]Okay. Can you lift your head off your neck?

[00:03:41]That's >> You're making a turtleneck dress.

[00:03:47]Those are in.

[00:03:50]>> Just making sure that I all of the measurements.

[00:04:04]Oh.

[00:04:05]Excuse [snorts] me.

[00:04:06]I'm just Sorry. I I can better assist you on the other side.

[00:04:10]>> My apologies.

[00:04:11]>> No, that's all right.

[00:04:11]>> You have a lovely shop.

[00:04:12]>> Thank you.

[00:04:14]This I can Like Like here is good.

[00:04:18]>> Thank you.

[00:04:19]Right here?

[00:04:20]>> Yes.

[00:04:21]Okay.

[00:04:24]You can um give me a little time, and you can pay when it's done.

[00:04:30]>> That's usually how business is done.

[00:04:32]Good thing.

[00:04:33]>> Mhm.

[00:04:34]>> I look forward to seeing what you can do, Mr. >> Uh John.

[00:04:39]>> Maddy.

[00:04:53]>> Maddy.

[00:05:43]>> Good morning, Mr. John.

[00:05:45]>> Maddy, I I I I I I I I know I I said I would have something done by now, but I'm sorry. The material has still not has been delivered.

[00:05:54]>> Or, hello Maddy. Nice to see you, too.

[00:05:59]>> Give me some time. I I I promise you I will get it done.

[00:06:02]>> Okay, well, I'm actually not even here about the dress. I was in the area for an appointment, and I happened to stop by that bakery I was telling you about.

[00:06:19]>> Why did you do this?

[00:06:21]>> Do what?

[00:06:22]>> Buy me something.

[00:06:26]>> John, it's a little something.

[00:06:29]>> Thank you.

[00:06:30]>> You're welcome.

[00:06:31]>> But I cannot accept.

[00:06:32]>> John, they're cookies. You're acting like I'm bribing you. Besides, my mother, she's always saying that it's very important to share the good things in life. So, please.

[00:06:45]Please.

[00:06:49]>> Okay.

[00:06:50]Thank you.

[00:08:03]>> There's a difference between loneliness and being alone.

[00:08:08]>> Explain.

[00:08:10]>> Wanting to be alone.

[00:08:35]Wanting to be alone.

[00:08:37]There's a sense of freedom that comes with it. Your own best friend.

[00:08:44]>> What about loneliness?

[00:08:48]>> It's very different.

[00:08:53]>> How so?

[00:08:58]>> Loneliness >> [sighs and gasps] >> it's no different from being dead.

[00:09:13]>> Here.

[00:09:14]Let me Let me show you.

[00:09:17]You have to hold it like this.

[00:09:19]No, put your like this. Put your finger here.

[00:09:24]Hold it like this.

[00:09:27]>> Yes, Mr. John.

[00:09:30]>> Yes, Mr. John.

[00:09:32]My grandfather, he made me practice for years before he let me. You you you are lucky I let you use.

[00:09:39]>> I am lucky that you let me use.

[00:09:44]>> You use it.

[00:09:47]>> I think that your grandfather would be very proud of what he's taught you.

[00:09:55]>> I hope so.

[00:10:00]>> I have a question for you.

[00:10:01]>> Mhm.

[00:10:03]>> Did you ever think of slim-fit suits?

[00:10:09]>> Oh, so you are a designer now?

[00:10:12]>> [laughter] >> No, I'm telling you skinny trousers are going to be in.

[00:10:33]>> [music] >> Oh.

[00:11:28]You did a good job with this place.

[00:11:30]And the customers, they love it. What is it about Americans and their decorations?

[00:11:37]Maddy.

[00:11:39]>> Yes. Yes, it's lovely.

[00:11:47]>> So, I trimmed it down like you like, and I took the side down.

[00:11:56]>> It's perfect.

[00:11:59]How much do I owe you?

[00:12:06]John, I'm serious. How much do I owe you?

[00:12:12]>> [snorts] >> What is this?

[00:12:16]I'm fully capable of paying for what I ordered. I hope you know that.

[00:12:20]>> Maddy.

[00:12:21]>> John.

[00:12:23]>> It was a gift.

[00:12:25]>> I can't accept that.

[00:12:26]>> You can accept. It's uh just like the cookies.

[00:12:30]>> It's not like the cookies.

[00:12:31]>> [laughter] >> It's not like the cookies.

[00:12:34]You truly are something else.

[00:12:38]Thank you.

[00:12:42]Well, now you have to accept my gift.

[00:12:50]I figured you could use a little variation.

[00:13:01]You don't like it. It's okay. I can return it. I have I have the receipt. I can return it. It's really It's really okay. It's not I'm not offended.

[00:13:12]>> No.

[00:13:13]Maddy, I I I love it. It's beautiful.

[00:13:19]I was uh I was just thinking about home.

[00:13:23]>> What was Christmas like back home?

[00:13:26]>> Um Christmas back at home.

[00:13:33]Um It was the one time that me and my family could forget about everything in life.

[00:13:43]Every year it was the same. I would help my father with the firewood, and my mother would be cooking a chicken soup for all of us.

[00:13:51]You should see.

[00:13:52]I wish you could see. She could break a rooster's neck with her bare hands.

[00:13:56]>> Wow.

[00:13:58]>> But I remember sitting around the table and looking at my sister and my brother and mama papa and remembering, "Ah, this is what makes Christmas so special."

[00:14:16]Except then there was a two Christmases where my uh my father, he was not there for.

[00:14:23]>> Why? What happened?

[00:14:26]>> Um >> [snorts] >> Well, I had to um take responsibility for the family.

[00:14:35]But when he came back, he did not say anything.

[00:14:41]It was as if it was expected.

[00:14:51]Uh also, we uh don't have Santa Claus.

[00:14:54]And we have a We have a witch.

[00:14:57]A an old woman who who rides a broom and hands out gifts to everybody.

[00:15:01]>> On a broom?

[00:15:02]>> [laughter] >> No.

[00:15:04]>> Yes.

[00:15:05]>> No.

[00:15:05]>> Yeah.

[00:15:06]It's crazy country, It- It- Italy.

[00:15:09]>> [laughter] >> That is That's very different.

[00:15:16]>> So, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?

[00:15:20]>> It was about the dress, but it's perfect.

[00:15:26]I look forward to wearing it.

[00:15:31]>> Merry Christmas, Maddie.

[00:15:35]>> Merry Christmas.

[00:15:54]>> Hello.

[00:15:56]>> Hi.

[00:16:05]>> You okay?

[00:16:07]Are you sure?

[00:19:14]>> Mhm.

[00:19:25]>> Hi John.

[00:19:27]I appreciate the flowers you keep sending.

[00:19:29]Did you happen to buy the whole store?

[00:19:32]I guess it is [music] true what they say about Italians.

[00:19:39]I came to a decision to stop the treatments. [music] It's for the best.

[00:19:46]When I was a little girl, I imagined a much different life for myself. I [music] thought that by 25, I'd have children, a loving husband, and a beautiful house that we'd call home.

[00:19:58]I guess life had other plans for me.

[00:20:03]But, that's all right.

[00:20:06]I have lived a life full of wonderful memories. I have laughed. [music] I have cried. I have grieved.

[00:20:14]And of course, I have loved.

[00:20:17]I met you.

[00:20:19]How many women can say they had Christmas in a tailor shop?

[00:20:24]So, I ask you not to be defeated by my death.

[00:20:27]Instead, realize the beauty of life and what it has to offer.

[00:20:32]I ask that you don't come see me on these [music] last days cuz it's just going to make it harder on you.

[00:20:37]Instead, spread your kindness [music] and love, and accept the kindness and love of others in return.

[00:20:46]Learn from this experience and share it with the world.

[00:20:51]Thank you for everything.

[00:20:55]With love, Maddy.

[00:21:06]I missed you.