What is an address, really? What does it contain? For most of us, it’s just a number and a street name — a practical and short format that guides mail to a specific destination. But in some places, like Costa Rica, addresses are more like giving directions, in a way to combines memory, poetry, and community. Instead of “123 Main Street”, you might be sending a postcard to an address that looks like “100 meters south of the church, across from the old tree”. Sometimes the landmarks are not even there anymore, but their memory still guides postcards and people home.
María Luisa Santos and Carlo Nasisse made a short film, Direcciones, exploring how Costa Rican addresses weave together all these different elements, keeping alive the traces of landmarks that once existed and the stories of the people who lived around them.
For us, who depend on addresses to connect strangers around the globe, it’s a beautiful reminder that behind every line on an address there’s also history, loss, poetry and love for a place.
PS: If you’re interested in the topic, check out this previous video explaining the Japanese addressing system!