Paper Clips

Most IMDb commentators have justly praised this beautiful, inspiring movie. But two commentators have downgraded this movie because it supposedly focuses on the murder of the Jewish people only - as if this were not a worthy enough focus in any case. This "criticism" would be a joke if it were funny (the joke being the one about the mother-in-law who gives her son-in-law two ties, one brown and one red, and when he wears the brown tie to dinner she complains: "What's the matter, you don't like the red one?")

According to one "critic," the movie fails to address the anti-homosexuality that the critic claims is rampant in Southern Baptist towns like the one where the paper-clip project took place. According to another "critic," the movie fails to address the fact that the Nazis also exterminated millions of non-Jews, who were considered either enemies of the State or racial inferiors. The main problem with such criticism is that the movie does in fact specifically address these facts. The movie does in fact memorialize the millions of non-Jews also killed by the Nazis, such as homosexuals, Slavs, gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, mental defectives, socialists, communists, etc. The movie specifically refers to some of these groups, including homosexuals. I wonder what movie these "critics" were watching.

In addition, these "critics" failed to understand the message of this movie, which was the conscious teaching, learning, and practice of tolerance, not only towards Jews - as if this would not be a good enough lesson, in any case - but towards any community of people different from one's own, any community that one might otherwise be inclined, out of fear and ignorance, to stereotype, degrade, hate, and even try to destroy.

Paper Clips is one of the most inspirational times I've ever had at the movies (and I've seen my share). It's a documentary detailing a middle school project in Tennessee to teach kids about the atrocities of the Holocaust. The kids are collecting 6 million paper clips to represent the 6 million Jews who died. The framework of the film sounds simple, but the ideas and values behind it are complex. These children who were raised as Protestants in a poor southern town are exposed to the harsh reality of the world and deal with it with tolerance and understanding. They interact with actual Holocaust survivors and in the end team up to erect a monument more moving than anything in Washington, D.C. This film should be shown to all school children. It has taught me that education is the only way to really change the world significantly. If enough children are taught to work together and be peaceful to each other, then we will create a whole new generation of children who love and reason and think. What a beautiful world it would be. - Scott Gingold, 2004

Who would have guessed that a small school in rural Tennessee could have started project that ended with world-wide participation? I purchased the DVD from Blockbuster the day it became available (November 1, 2005). I had heard good comments about the movie, but was unable to find another retail or internet outlet that offered it for sale.

I found myself holding back tears as the movie documented death camp survivors telling their stories to the folks of Whitfield. This story is very heart warming and gives hope that todays jaded children can be inspired to make a difference and learn from the past. And the teachers themselves were effected by the project to self-introspection of their attitudes towards people "different" than themselves.

I hope to someday visit the exhibit that resulted from the paper clip project.

I was so lucky to have seen this at the Seattle International Film Festival.

This documentary covers simple act of students trying to conceptualize the enormity of the six million people who were killed in the Holocaust by using paper clips.

Two teachers created a curriculum designed to teach their mostly white middle school kids about tolerance. In selecting the Holocaust they ended up teaching more than the kids, they changed themselves and their town. They also reached people around the world, many who shared stories about loved ones who were lost. Survivors also tell their stories and express their joy and appreciation of experiencing life.

Miramax purchased this documentary, and hopefully they will release it soon.

As the number of people who can tell the Holocaust story from the first person perspective dwindles, this film is a gift to those of us learning about WWII and the Holocaust from text books.

I saw this film at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in early 2004, and am thrilled that it is finally being released. It moved me to tears with its touching realities, and i tell everyone i know to see it as soon as possible. It is informative, inspiring, and breath-taking...and, for you Hollywood types, it has a "happy ending". I seldom want to travel anymore, but were the wanderlust bug to bite me again, i think that i would head to that little own in Tennessee, to witness this miracle first-hand. Go see this film. Don't think about going or analyze whether it is for Jews-only. Just go...and be a better person for the experience.