A few days ago someone asked me what my favorite documentary is. I didn’t have to think about it: The Art of the Shine. This one has it all. You meet intriguing people in several countries who, for different reasons in and in very different ways, have chosen to make their living shining shoes.
Before seeing this jewel of a film most of us would probably have bet that every person shining shoes would do something else if they could. The filmmaker proves us so wrong through these amazing people. Their stories have dramatic twists and surprising depth. Who needs shiny shoes during a war? Are clean shoes art? How do you handle having an embarrassing job? Can polished footwear make a whole nation strong? See this Stacey Tenenbaum film to be delighted, humbled and inspired.
This film happens to have a segment set in La Paz, Bolivia, where I am from. But you’ll get just a taste of the country, so don’t see it for that. See it for the stories. See it because you can learn from shoe shine people how to make work have real meaning. See it because, as a result, you will forever understand the dignity of work and that, in turn, can change how you see other people, society and the ability to be happy.
See it: Amazon, IMDb (“Shiners”)
Learn more: PBS Independent lens
“Better You” Value: Great Stories **** Extraordinary Ordinary People*** Life Lessons** You as a Change Agent!!**
