Sam is broke, with a girlfriend and baby at home. His walk back from work detours to the pub, all the while making idle promises over the phone that he’ll be home soon. On his way back, he stumbles across a man sat outside a corner shop, asking for change. He offers to buy the man anything he wants.

 

“You could get us a scratch card if you want?” This one request transforms Sam’s drunken walk home into a night of anger and desperation, raising questions around charity and what it really means for people giving and receiving it.

 

Scratch is Blue Shoes’ first short narrative film, and is co-directed by Liam Steers and James Clubb.