The Mystery of the Flying Kicks

Matthew Bate, Closer Productions (Documentary)

SUMMARY:

It's a phenomenon in every urban neighborhood in the world, one that transcends cultural boundaries, yet we perhaps pay little attention to it; shoes dangling from phone wires. It's a common sight, and it turns out, it's common pretty much every where in the world. But why? This short documentary explores the significance of throwing shoes on phone wires, and what it means in different countries. In Australia, tossing shoes is a rite of passage, when someone has lost their virginity. In Spain, it's a gentlemen's agreement between the mafia and the police, and in America, we often see shoes up as an act of bullying, boredom, or potentially, as a marker of illegal activity or gang territory. A very fun and short exploration of our desire to leave our mark in public places in a visible way, and how one simple act can mean such different things around the world, and even from city to city. Kick up your shoes and watch.

WATCH (14 min): http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/08/what-do-sneakers-on-telephone-wires-really-mean/279146/