paper clips

Paper Clips (2004)

Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee is the setting for this documentary about an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust education. Struggling to grasp the concept of six-million Holocaust victims, the students decide to collect six-million paper clips to better understand the extent of this crime against humanity. The film details how the students met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how the experience transformed them and their community

While I didn't cry once watching The Bridge (twice), it seems from nearly the very beginning of this doc, I was balling like a baby for the entire viewing.

Perhaps, it was the perfect storm of seeing a community do something so filled with education and value and respect - in a time when our country that seems so hell bent on instilling fear, distrust and hate.

While there were many things I didn't enjoy about the construction of this film (the editing, some of the "re-creations" and the over-produced symphonic soundtrack) - the thing that struck me over and over again was the simple content of the story.

It's a lovely story. While it deals with one of the most henious atrocities in human history (and while part of the filming takes place over another - 9/11), it really underlines the fact of WHY we need to remember our history. And how the lessons from that time can still impact lives today.

In a time of war, of muckracking politics, a failing economy - when fear is the lead story every night...the lesson of tolerance and what people working together can create is worthy of watching.

Twice.

Lesson: Even if your construction seems overly forced at times, a simple, solid story may trump your production failings.