Movie Reviews: ‘The Philosopher Kings,’ the person inside the custodian
Early in this uneven yet moving documentary, a university janitor greets a woman exiting the restroom he’s about to clean. She doesn’t respond. Neither does she look at him nor acknowledge his presence in any way. In “The Philosopher Kings,” director Patrick Shen insists that we look at individuals usually relegated to the margins.
That straightforward insistence is the lifeblood of the film, which profiles eight people who work as custodians at institutions of higher learning. The sole woman notes that when she tells people what she does, they usually clam up, certain that nothing interesting could possibly ensue. Their loss.
The film sometimes feels diffuse, even within its brief chapters, each framed by a quote from a philosopher or writer. Shen builds a composite portrait of resilience and inner strength, but his use of multiple threads undercuts the focus on individuality. Among those profiled, including a former rodeo rider, a self-taught artist and a man who overcame a devastating physical loss, are a few whose stories would make compelling documentaries on their own.
That’s especially true of Josue Lajeunesse, a janitor at Princeton who moonlights as a cabbie so he can support his family in Haiti. He’s also spearheading a project there to bring potable water to an impoverished village. On a visit home (before the earthquake), Lajeunesse’s anguish over the enormity of the country’s problems is deeply affecting. In this age of celebrity, it’s also a powerful reminder of the nameless people whose charitable work doesn’t generate headlines.
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“The Philosopher Kings.” MPAA rating: Unrated. Running time: 1 hour, 9 minutes. At the Downtown Independent, Los Angeles.
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