Synopsis
Having a good shoe repairman in New York City is like having a good mechanic in LA. You just can't negotiate life on the streets without one. Lorenzo Powell first learned his trade working in his father's shoe repair shop in Harlem in the late 70's and 80's. Back then, Harlem was acutely economically depressed. People wore their shoes until their feet touched the sidewalk—and they brought them right to Lorenzo's family shop.
Lorenzo has been a longtime fixture in the midtown Manhattan community for almost 20 years. People who have moved to other neighborhoods travel far and wide to have him fix their beloved soles. He services many of the major theaters on Broadway. He is a true artisan and master of his craft—not to mention a small business owner, surviving in a time when the mom-and-pop shops are dropping like flies in a rapidly changing metropolis.
director’s Statement
When I started working on The Hardest Working Man I found it to be an endearing story about a dedicated craftsman who faces a rapidly gentrifying city and a fashion market that was eliminating the need for a shoe repair. But now, upon the release of this film it feels so much more relevant to the current state of the country when working people are under fire.
Lorenzo is a kind and thoughtful craftsman who has philosophical charm about the way operates his business and keeps going. It's difficult not to feel drawn in by him. This is why I kept persevering with this film. I'm so happy to be able to share a glimpse into this man's life. He inspires me and hope he inspires you too.