After the Ball (2015)

"What would you do if you were in my shoes?"

"Get new shoes."

Kate Kassell (Doubleday) is a young fashion designer.  Her work is impressive, but no one will hire her due to her family's reputation.  her father, Lee (North), owns a retail company that remakes fashion looks.  With nowhere else to turn, she accepts Lee's offer to work at the company.  Her stepmother, Elise (Holly), runs the company and resents Kate's presence.  Kate is put to work sorting buttons in the stockroom, while Elise's daughters Simone (Hopkins) and Tannis (Krill) get large offices and the opportunity to design for the company.

Kate quickly befriends designer Maurice (Michael) and catches the eye of shoe designer Daniel (Grondin).  But Simone and Tannis ruin Kate's reputation and get her fired.  She turns to her godparents, Bella (Kuzyk) and Richard (Rota), who own a vintage clothing store.  They encourage her to fight back and save the company.  With her knowledge of fashion, Bella's knowledge of Lee, and Richard's coaching, Kate returns to the company as Nate.  Can she save the day and get the guy?


This film is a modern retelling of Cinderella, but writers Kate Melville and Jason Sherman also added some elements of William Shakespeare's "As You Like It."  The Cinderella elements are clear - the girl forced to do menial tasks for her stepmother and stepsisters, aided by her godmother and the man in her life gives her a shoe.  But Kate taking action and posing as a man is the plot of Shakespeare's "As You Like It."  The two elements work well and keep the story interesting.

I stumbled onto this film on Netflix a few years ago and added it to my queue.  It is an enjoyable diversion.  It isn't a big budget film, but it holds your attention and the cast is good.  The costumes / fashion works well.  I enjoyed it and would definitely watch it again.

After the Ball (2015) 101 minutes
Director: Sean Garrity
Starring: Portia Doubleday as Kate Kassell
Marc-Andre Grondin as Daniel
Chris North as Lee Kassell
Lauren Holly as Elise Adams Kassell
Anna Hopkins as Simone Adams
Natalie Krill as Tannis Adams
Mimi Kuzyk as Bella
Carlo Rota as Richard
David Michael as Maurice
Colin Mochrie as Frost