Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
‘We’ll go wash windows in heaven so that heaven is clean.’
Dangling from the towering buildings that mark Chicago’s iconic skyline, three men wash windows for a living when they’re not on construction jobs. Sergio and Jaime Polanco from the Mexican state of Zacatecas and their US-born cousin Cruz Guzman take pride in the work, which literally offers windows on to the worlds of people with dramatically different wealth and lifestyles from their own. There are risks too, of course – Chicago’s winds are notoriously fierce, and a fall resulting from the failure of the ropes, suction cups or harnesses that the men use would likely mean death. In this short documentary, the Israeli-born and New York City-based director Nadav Kurtz draws on wide-ranging conversations with the men to create a warmhearted meditation on work, class and mortality. The film premiered in 2012 and played at numerous festivals, including Sundance, True/False, Tribeca and Melbourne International.
Director: Nadav Kurtz
Directors of Photography: Christopher Markos, Andrew Wehde, Jay Patton
Website: Dictionary Films
video
Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes
video
Architecture
West Africa was once an architectural laboratory. Is it time for a revival?
12 minutes
video
Work
A Swedish expat in the Philippines wonders: what’s up with people sleeping at work?
14 minutes
video
Biography and memoir
The unique life philosophy of Abdi, born in Somalia, living in the Netherlands
29 minutes
video
Art
‘If you’re creative, why can’t you create a solution?’ One artist’s imaginative activism
17 minutes
video
The ancient world
An ancient Roman’s hilarious (and perhaps relatable) response to a social snub
2 minutes
video
Ethics
For Iris Murdoch, selfishness is a fault that can be solved by reframing the world
6 minutes
video
Death
A hunter’s lyrical reflection on the humbling business of being mortal
6 minutes
video
Love and friendship
After his son’s terrorist attack, Azdyne seeks healing – and his granddaughter
25 minutes