The Things We Carry Home

In a place where people remember your name, understand your project, and honour your story, a small-town store transforms into a gathering space for everyone.

The Things We Carry Home is a poetic-observational documentary that explores a small-town hardware store as a quiet centre of community life. It is more than a place for utilitarian transactions; it becomes a space where even the most routine gestures carry emotional weight. At its heart, the film reflects on hospitality, service, and the lasting importance of community spaces that bring people together. A search for a tool often turns into a reunion, a lingering conversation, or a moment that reaffirms one's sense of belonging. The film follows the rhythm of a single day, from unlocking the doors at first light to closing them after dusk. These repeated actions form a structure in which trust is built, and neighbourly bonds are sustained.