I wrote about this on an Open Thread, but it didn't get much of a response, so I am writing a short diary.
Today, mother's day, my mother insisted that I watch a movie. She has never done this before. The movie is called Paper Clips, it's out on DVD, and I urge everyone to see it. It's about the holocaust, it's about a small town in Tennessee, it's about changing people and changing the world, and there is more after the fold
Why am I recommended a film on daily Kos? This isn't a site about film, after all. There are two big reasons: First, in the months I've been here, I've come to think of myself as part of this community, and to count some as friends. My friends should see this movie. Second, although it isn't totally obvious, this is exactly a daily Kos kind of film
Before I go into a little detail, I will say that the movie, while uplifting overall, does deal with a lot of horrible information. It's a disturbing film. It's a good kind of disturbing, but I think that it might not be right for kids younger than about 10, and even older ones will need guidance with it, particularly if they do not know about the holocaust.
OK, some details, without (I hope) spoiling it. In 1998, in Whitwell, Tennessee (a small, all-white, all-Protestant town near Chatanooga)the high school principal decided that the kids should learn about some different people. She decided that the school would study the holocaust. They started off with not much idea of what to do. Few of the teachers knew. One of the teachers admits to having been rather prejudiced. They got the idea to try to collect a paper clip for every Jew who died in the camps. This is their story.
Go see it.
It's inspiring.