In a post\u00a0Brexit\u00a0Europe, this new Irish short looks at the lives of non nationals living in Ireland making their way as\u00a0‘human directionals’ on the streets of Dublin.<\/p>\n
‘Signs of the Times’\u00a0is a short documentary that looks at the stories, dreams and motivations of the street sign holders of Dublin. Known as human directionals in the advertising industry, they are dotted throughout the main thoroughfares of Dublin’s city centre. Poorly paid and mostly of non-Irish origin, the sign holders are human billboards. Day after day, in rain or shine, they direct shoppers to the small businesses in the shadow of the high street.<\/p>\n
The sign holders are likes statues, motionless against the waves of indifferent shoppers, with only their thoughts and smart phones to keep them company. They are the ultimate people watchers. As the city pulses around them they see the little dramas of urban life unfold, sound tracked by their tiny plastic headphones.<\/p>\n
In the documentary, we meet Houston Mathews, Sandip\u00a0Babubhai Patel and Felipe Medeiros. As they go about their daily routine on Grafton Street the once faceless silhouettes become warm characters; generously sharing stories of family, encounters with strangers and their future plans. Watch it via Vimeo below.<\/p>\n