[Video Review] Paper Clips

Figure 1. The Paper Clips Project Movie

To me, this is a documentary, first, about the power of the educational process. The teachers were so frank about how, when the project started, the one was only thinking about her career and the other was a racist. They talked about how they explored prejudice with their students and how they, as poor southerners, were stereotyped, and how they naturally stereotyped others. They talked about ups and downs in the course of the project.

Second, it is a unique vehicle for exploring the history of the holocaust. Seeing parts of it through the eyes of these children reveals shock where there should be shock, but there is so often the numbness of having heard it again and again.

The evolution of the adults involved is highlighted and is inspirational, though a little tedious. At times it was a little trite, but this is not an educational natgeo type nor is it a Michael Moore-esqe docudrama. It is a story about an ordinary community doing something very meaningful.

Fair Warning: If you are a crier, grab some tissues before you start this one. I'm not a particularly emotional person, but I definitely got chill bumps more than once.