series synopsis
Experience the remarkable tenacity of the human spirit as you witness the unwavering resilience of those confronting unimaginable challenges in poverty-stricken metropolises around the world.
In Their Shoes is a six-part, one-hour documentary series that takes viewers on a cinematic and confronting journey into the lives of everyday heroes.
Our host walks a mile in their shoes, enduring dire work conditions, grim living environments, horrifying health concerns, and political controversies. Through this immersive experience, viewers gain a deeper understanding of the limits of human survival in the face of extreme adversity.
Combining the cultural immersion and unapologetic honesty of Anthony Bourdain’s, Parts Unknown, and the unconventional style of Louis Theroux, weird weekends. In Their Shoes creates an unforgettable viewing experience that brings to life the indomitable human spirit.
In Their Shoes is a six-part, 40-minute episode gritty blend of education and true reality in a documentary series.
Its an assimilation into the ever-expanding poverty-stricken metropolises in all corners of the globe.
Our host endures dire work conditions, grim living environments, horrifying health concerns and political controversy by literally walking in someone else's shoes while exploring the limits in the survival of life of the extremely unfortunate.
The feeling of owe and wonderment from the vivid aerial scapes of David Attenborough', Plaent Earth... The curious encounters and genuine connection of culture and people of the late Anthony Bourdain', Parts Unknown... The thrilling immersive action and bringing suspense of Bear Grylls', Man VS Wild. Immersive, confronting, educational, cinematic and truly real, In Their Shoes, is a journey into adversity and the heroic people that endure it.
Reviews
Who, what,,why?
Introducing Richard Bowes, a world-record adventurer who has undertaken five extraordinary world-record expeditions and now ventures into uncharted territory with this latest documentary series. In this project, Richard will spend two weeks in the shoes of those living in extreme poverty, immersing himself in their physical, emotional, social, and political challenges.
Richard's career has been defined by his encounters with emotional darkness, near-death experiences, and hospitalization due to exhaustion while exploring some of the world's most hostile environments. Through these challenges, he has gained a profound understanding of himself, but his latest project will push him to his limits, as he confronts his vulnerability and discomfort while walking in someone else's shoes.
By immersing himself in the realities of life in extreme poverty, Richard hopes to provide viewers with a firsthand insight into the incredible lengths that people go to in order to survive. His journey will offer a powerful message that touches on the universal human experience of survival, one that everyone can relate to.
Join him on this immersive and eye-opening journey as he shines a light on the realities of extreme poverty, uncovering the resilience and strength of those who struggle to survive every day.
Episodes
In Their Shoes, Episode One, A Inhumane Colonial Treasure
Rickshaw
Wallah end
of an era
Kolkata, India
Rickshaw Wallah
Episode One | A Inhumane Colonial Treasure | 46m 45s | 2020 | HD
Join us for an eye-opening episode of "In Their Shoes" as we explore the daily struggles of the rickshaw pullers in the grand colonial city of Kolkata. Starting their day at 5am, the rickshaw pullers work tirelessly in the narrow, dirty backstreets, hoping to earn 100-150 rupees ($1.39-$2.09) for their strenuous labor. They transport goods, children, and women around the city, all while surviving on a meager diet of cheap street food and living in cramped and unsanitary conditions.
As we follow these men throughout their day, we'll see firsthand the challenges they face, from avoiding police fines to enduring the stifling heat and chaotic streets. We'll learn about the uncertain future of this ancient profession, as wealthier locals and the government push for their elimination in the name of progress. But for the rickshaw pullers, the biggest dream is simply to continue pulling their rickshaws until the end of their lives.
Through this episode, we'll gain a deeper understanding of the harsh realities faced by the world's poorest communities and the lengths that people will go to in order to survive. Don't miss this powerful and thought-provoking episode of "In Their Shoes."
Directed by: Andre Stamatakakos
Host: Richard Bowles
Location: Kolkata, India
Location Fixer: Shivam Pandy
Language: English
Subtitles language: Bengali/English
Translator: Amit Jit Narayan Singh
Episode Charity: Uncle Ji & Friends
In Their Shoes, Episode Two, Hardship In the Highest Capital
Lustrabotas The Anonymous Shoe Shiners
La Paz, Bolivia
The Anonymous Shoe Shiners
Episode Two | Hardship in the Highest Capital | TBA | 2022 | HD
This episode of In Their Shoes delves into the lives of La Paz's shoe shiners, who are forced to endure not only extreme poverty but also the scorn and contempt of their customers. Every day, they brave the city's bustling streets, on the lookout for dusty shoes to clean for a meager fee of 2.08 BOLIVIAN BOLIVIANOS (30 US cents) a pair. They wear masks to avoid being recognized and hide their job from their families due to the stigma attached to it in Bolivian society. Despite the daily threats, insults, and police corruption they face, these destitute men, women, and children scrape together an income to support themselves and their families. But as they struggle to meet their basic needs, their dreams of a better life remain out of reach.
Directed by: Andre Stamatakakos
Host: Richard Bowles
Location: La Paz, Bolivia
Language: English
Subtitles language: Spanish/English
In Their Shoes, Episode Three, Difficulties of the Dump
Dump scavengers
living off
the landfill
Stem Reap, Cambodia
Dump Scavengers
Episode Three | Difficulties of the Dump | TBA | 2022 | HD
Every day, hundreds of poverty-stricken locals in Cambodia call a mountain of toxic waste at Anlong Pi dump home. They wade through the filth in search of recyclable materials to sell, earning a meager $2 per day. The dangerous chemical and biological reactions between organic and inorganic compounds make breathing the toxic fumes hazardous to their health. Recent visits from tourists have turned extreme poverty into a tourist attraction, bringing food and money but also impacting the children's education and the psychological well-being of the dump community. Despite the risks, the people of Anlong Pi endure this stinking, dirty, and dangerous dumpsite as a means of survival.
Directed by: Andre Stamatakakos
Host: Richard Bowles
Location: Anlong Pi, Cambodia
Language: English
Subtitles language: None
In Their Shoes, Episode Four, Where Ships Go to Die
Ship-breaking
yard workers
Chittagong, Bangladesh
Ship-breaking Yard Workers
Episode Three | Where Ships Go to Die | TBA | 2022 | HD
The world's largest ship-breaking recycling yards in Chittagong, Bangladesh, employ thousands of workers who risk their lives daily for less than US$3.00 a day. These workers work six 14-hour shifts a week and face not only the dangers of the job but also a high risk of being infected with diseases like Leprosy due to unsanitary living conditions. They break down 300 ships a year using only human-powered tools like blowtorches and ropes, often wading through toxic chemicals that pollute the sand. Despite the global fight to protect them, these workers are disposable and lack accountability.
Directed by: Andre Stamatakakos
Host: Richard Bowles
Location: Bangladesh
Language: Bengali
Subtitles language: Spanish
In Their Shoes, Episode Five, The Worlds Biggest Floating Slum
Lagoon
Log-Pullers
Lagos, Nigeria
Lagoon Log-Pullers
Episode Three | The Worlds Biggest Floating Slum | TBA | 2022 | HD
Makoka is a slum in Lagos, Nigeria, where 300,000 people live in shacks on stilts on the water, and where a dangerous sawmill industry thrives, providing the city with wood for housing and burning. Surviving in Makoka without power or clean water is a constant challenge, and the residents live under the constant threat of eviction. Despite this, the community has created a thriving economy with industries including smokehouses, boat building, and clay and laterite importation for landfill.
Directed by: Andre Stamatakakos
Host: Richard Bowles
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Language: English
Subtitles language: None
In Their Shoes, Episode Six, Living Among the Dead
grave diggers exhume the dead
Manila, Philippines
Grave Diggers Exhume the Dead
Episode Six | Living Among the Dead | TBA | 2022 | HD
In this episode a community of people who have built homes among graves and tombs in a crowded city where graves are leased for five-year periods. Despite the tough and horrifying life they lead, the community has formed around the cemetery, with kids playing games, women cooking, and even weekend parties and Sunday service taking place among the dead. However, the government wants to force them out and regularly conducts anti-drug raids, shooting and killing many of the young men. The people in the cemetery say that they are a part of the greater community, caring for the dead, and doing jobs that no one else will do.
Directed by: Andre Stamatakakos
Host: Richard Bowles
Location: Manila, Philippines
Language: English
Subtitles language: Spanish