Review of A Small Act (2010) by Glenn G — 31 Aug 2010

I'm a little late to the party on this one, but as I write this, I'm in tears after watching this extraordinary documentary. Full disclosure here...I know many of the people behind this one - -Writer/Director/Producer, Jen Arnold, D.

P./Producer, Patti Lee, and Editor Carl Pfirman - - and couldn't be more proud. A smash at this year's Sundance festival, and subsequently aired on HBO, this film is simply beautiful. We see how an elderly Holocaust survivor, living on her own in Sweden, was able to make such a difference by sponsoring a child's education in Kenya.

..and how this one small act reverberates around their respective communities. At times so tense (especially during a sequence where children await the results via text of a potentially life-changing exam), my heart was pounding.

I was especially impressed by the wonderful cinematography, editing, and humanity of the piece. Opening sequence images instantly conveyed the power that we all live under the same sky, breathe the same air, and are responsible for each other, regardless of man-made borders.

I grew up in a family that sponsored a young boy in the Philippines, and years later, I had the privilege of meeting him there in person. As a child, I didn't believe he existed, cynically thinking the whole thing was a hoax.

He was real, and grateful. I felt our family had made a difference. This wonderful documentary reignited those same feelings. Bravo to everyone involved.