 This movie is based on Somerset Maugham s novel... about how sensitive Phillip is all his life because of his club foot... He feels doomed, always to fail, in life and in love. He fights back tears and emotions daily. He takes constant abuse as a child, and becomes isolated and lonely...this carries through to adulthood and harbors in his love of Mildred. This shows one of the dark sides of love, how much abuse we can take, and still go back for more.