Some people perform jobs that are considered inspirational. We call these people teachers, doctors and community organizers. Other people perform jobs that are disdained. We call them lawyers and car salesmen. And there are people who do the kind of work that we would prefer not to think about at all. We call them janitors. Director Patrick Shen calls them THE PHILOSOPHER KINGS. The culture of custodians may be one of invisibility, but that doesn’t mean they are devoid of substance and wisdom. In a nod to Plato, Shen shows us the difference between having an education and possessing knowledge by spotlighting the artists, humanitarians and thinkers who clean up—but do not study at— some of the US’s finest institutions of higher learning. Five people from different backgrounds and different parts of the country invite Shen into their lives and reveal insights gained from both ordinary and occasionally extraordinary experiences of pain, ambition and love. As we move back and forth between their stories, we may come to envy how comfortable they are in their own skin—more comfortable, perhaps, than many of us. So the improbable happens, and a documentary about working people leaves us feeling optimistic and even renewed. With an engaging style and an eye for balancing drama, humor and despair, Shen transforms these personal mini-narratives into a larger conversation about the job of being human.

Filmmaker Q&A

Introduce yourself:
PATRICK SHEN made his feature directorial debut in 2003 with the critically acclaimed FLIGHT FROM DEATH: THE QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY, which was hailed by critics as being "one of the most ambitious films ever made" and "one of the best films of the year". Beautifully photographed in eight countries and three years in the making, FLIGHT FROM DEATH was awarded seven "Best Documentary" awards at film festivals all over the United States and was released domestically in 2005. Just recently he completed work on CHANGE YOUR LIFE! a feature comedy, which he co-produced, co-directed and edited, about the shady world of pyramid schemes and the pursuit of effortless prosperity starring Tony Plana ("Ugly Betty", THREE AMIGOS, JFK) and Taylor Negron (FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH).

What inspired this film?   How did you find your subjects?
The concept for THE PHILOSOPHER KINGS came about while interviewing a subject for FLIGHT FROM DEATH: THE QUEST FOR IMMORTALITY, the critically acclaimed, seven-time Best Documentary winner that was my first feature length film. Sheldon Solomon, an eccentric PhD who in his own words is often mistaken for a homeless man, told a story of how he was a “haircut away from a job at Harvard”, and continued to remark how he believed there are probably more wise people who look homeless than there are wearing suits and ties. When I was reviewing the footage while editing FLIGHT FROM DEATH, the idea came to me that I’d like to explore wisdom and what sort of misconceptions we have about it.

To give the film more focus and an easier context within which to explore this idea, we chose to interview only custodians. They are everywhere – in every business, on every campus – yet they’re totally unseen. How many encounters do we have with people everyday yet not really see them? Too many to count probably. There’s a disconnection there somewhere and I wanted to call attention to it somehow with this film.

What were some of the biggest challenges/surprises?
A film project almost always begins with a phone call or an email to some person whom you either want to interview or who might know something about someone you want to interview. I’m always blown away by the extraordinary journeys we often find ourselves on as a result of those little phone calls.

It was a phone call to Princeton University that resulted in us meeting Josue Laujenesse, a custodian by day and taxi cab driver by night. Months later we found ourselves in a remote village, where Josue was raised and where his family currently resides, in the middle of the jungles of Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. We feared for our lives every second we were in Haiti, a country known for frequent kidnappings of Americans and whose capital is considered one of the most dangerous places on the planet, but it was possibly the most incredibly exciting and rewarding experiences of our lives.

Who are some of your favorite filmmakers?
I’m a big fan these days of narrative directors that employ documentary techniques or whose movies deal with very honest and raw themes like Jonathan Demme and his recent masterpiece RACHEL GETTING MARRIED. Alejandro Gonzalez Innarritu’s movies also have very honest and sincere qualities to his movies that I connect with.

What is your all time favorite documentary?
It’s more of a documentary series, but I absolutely love This American Life, both the radio and TV series. I think when it comes to non-fiction storytelling, no one does it better.

What other projects are in the pipeline?
I’m in post-production on a short film called THE PROBLEM WITH DEATH about a man who puts a hit out on himself but ends up learning a valuable lesson from his killer. Documentary-wise, I haven’t settled on anything just yet – I’m open.

Why did you become a filmmaker?
I became a filmmaker because I have a natural desire to speak out and speak my mind but for some reason can’t stand the sound of my own voice. It’s really one of the few mediums that suit me.

What are some of your creative influences?
Aside from movies, music is a pretty big influence for me. I can’t do anything without a soundtrack.

Did you go to film school?
No, but I did take a few classes here and there throughout high school and during my first year of college. I dropped out of college a year later to pursue music and film.

What do you shoot on?
These days we shoot everything in HD on a Panasonic HVX200.

What has been the most unexpected thing to happen since taking the film on the festival circuit?
Not applicable – this is our world premiere.

Why did you want to screen your film at SILVERDOCS?
SILVERDOCS is one of the most prestigious documentary film festivals in the United States. Of course, it’s an honor to be included in its lineup this year. Further, it attracts both documentary fans who just want to see some good movies and industry types who are looking for projects to represent or pick up – it’s really the ideal audience for the launch of any film.