Shiners

The film explores the lives of shoe shiners from around the world, including La Paz, New York City, Sarajevo, Tokyo, and Toronto. The individuals featured have unique stories about how they ended up in this profession, but share common experiences of being undervalued by society until others get to know them. Despite this, they are all proud of their work, with the exception of some in La Paz who wear masks to conceal their identity due to societal stigma. The film highlights the diversity of reasons why people choose this occupation, including survival, personal circumstances, and a desire to revive a dying art.