runamokprods
This basic documentary is shot simply and full of talking heads, and loaded with an often over-the-top score
and it doesn't matter a bit. This is the deeply moving story of how a tiny Tennessee town of 1600 people, a town with no Catholics, let alone Jews, decided to teach their middle school students about tolerance an diversity by teaching them about the Holocaust. The program caught on and deeply affected the students, who came up with the idea of collecting 6 million papers clips as a way of honoring the memory of the 6 million Jews who dies under Hitler. The program attracted attention first across the country and then from around the world as Presidents and movie stars sent paper clips, and Holocaust survivors traveled to the town to meet the students, and were greeted with unbelievable shows of love and respect. Eventually this tiny town created a permanent and impressive memorial to not only the 6 million Jews who perished, but also the 5 million gay people, gypsies, mentally and physically handicapped and others killed in the death camps. I found it impossible not to cry, and to really be touched by the good in these small town folk, making me realize my own prejudices in my assumptions that small town southerners would all be racists and closed minded. A wonderful reminder that, in the words of Anne Frank, "people are good at heart".
Gambitt
I have a couple of nits to pick with Paper Clips. As commendable as the actions of the students and teachers were, the movie was simply not very interesting. I would have preferred that the film at least try to challenge the viewers, considering the complexities of modern race matters.Instead, we receive a brief introduction to what the school set out to do, and then we are treated with 45 minutes of teary eyed commemorative speeches and dedication ceremonies. The movie feels like 10% journey and 90% destination celebration.Also, the movie is described as an experiment about the Holocaust, leading to a miracle. There wasn't really any experiment (more of a project), and what happened was hardly a miracle. What was achieved was the product of hard work, dedication, and perseverance of all involved. Calling it a miracle actually cheapens their work.
edwagreen
One of the best documentaries in years regarding students and staff of Whitwell, Tennessee who embark upon a school project regarding the holocaust. The area is located in a homogeneous Protestant town where not one Jewish person resides.Kudos to Principal Linda Hooper and her assistant principal and 8th grade language arts teacher for devising this project. Over 29 million paper clips were collected, the latter representing the holocaust victims. We learn that paper clips came originally from Norway and was meant to unite. How appropriate.Holocaust survivors visit the town and relate their harrowing experiences to students, staff and town residents.Principal Hooper is certainly a hands-on administrator. She was directly involved in the project and shows her emotional vulnerability as she learned about what took place in Europe over 60 years ago.Through this project, the school was able to obtain a train car where victims were shipped to concentration camps. The ceremony was memorable when the car made its way to this rural Tennessee town.This magnificent documentary shows that we have the ability to learn tolerance and eventual acceptance of all people.It should definitely be shown in all public schools and the likes of Mel Gibson should be made to see it.Congratulations for a memorable experience. Thank you.
metinmustafa
I think this movie is a fiction on Jews again. I do not believe Nazis killed so many Jews. For political reasons Jews making such films to make their name in the political world. It is not emotional anymore to watch such movies that mentions about Jews. However "Life is beautiful" is one of the greatest movie I have ever seen. That is I have no prejudice about Jews. This movie is not worth to watch. I think Jew community have to rethink when they are filming movies like this. They are losing the reality in World War II. After the World War Jews exaggerate the number of killed Jews by Nazis to establish their state Israel. I think they make movies to justify their reasons of killing innocent people.
AD
