The Maysles Cinema is proud to present Patrick Shen’s The Philosopher Kings in three exclusive New York screenings. This remarkable film focuses on the lives and insights of custodians who work at prestigious American universities and colleges, and the paths that brought them to their jobs. After seeing The Philosopher Kings, you’ll never look at the custodians the same way again.
In search of wisdom found in unlikely places, The Philosopher Kings travels the halls of prestigious colleges and universities across America to learn from the staff members who see it all and have been through it all: the janitors. This thought-provoking, feature-length documentary weaves together the untold stories of triumph and tragedy from the members of society who are often disregarded and ignored, and seeks out the kind of wisdom that gets them through the day.
“Most of us know what it feels like to have something to say and no opportunity to share it. The Philosopher Kings reveals what happens when seemingly “ordinary” people, who have never had an opportunity to speak publicly, openly share their experiences and the things they care most deeply about,” says director Patrick Shen.
“In an institution of higher learning, custodians aren’t at the bottom of the academic ladder; they don’t even have a rung. But a new documentary film, [The Philosopher Kings,] aims to turn that hierarchy on its ear.” -Cornell Alumni Magazine
“‘If you can’t keep the house of God clean, you can’t keep no house clean,’ says one of the principals in Patrick Shen’s terrific documentary about janitors-yes, janitors.” -San Francisco Chronicle
