Paper Clips Reviews

Thought provoking

I've just watched this and thought the previous reviewer missed the point. It started as a paper clip exercise but ended up as something much deeper - about people, old and young, examining their own prejudices. This was brought about by their contact with Holocaust Survivors and with their research. There was some very touching moments when these survivors told their stories - and that's what the film was about - not about the statistics but about the reality of what it felt like to be 100 deep in a cattle car on the way to a concentration camp, about youngsters today being touched by something that happened more than 60 years ago.

powerful

I was very impressed and deeply moved by this documentary. I felt it told a lot about the Holocaust, from a very personal point of view. It is sad another reviewer was disappointed because it was a documentary rather than a film, but personally I like to hear about true stories, especially one as amazing as this. As a teacher I would have been proud to have been part of this and it was good how each incoming eighth grade year group moved the project on. I thought the production and development was good. I feel it should be compulsory viewing as part of high school history. and other adults too. The sad thing is that ethnic cleansing still goes on so we haven't learnt that lesson. Well done Whitwell Middle School. If ever in Tennesee I shall come and visit and Paper clips have taken on a new meaning for me.

No excuse for an appalling film

What is a second rate TV film doing in the rental lists?

This film was made by amateurs on a cheap camcorder.

Not in the same sense as a well made dogma style or 'intended to be raw' docu style art style film.

The idea is perfect...an ideal vehicle for a sentimental tear jerking 'true story' so why degrade it by making trash?

If you like good films you'll love this to remind you why films are good and bad.

Watch it and chuck it. Or you may well enjoy it. I didn't.

Marmite

This is gonna be one of those things, that you either love, or just don't get and thus hate? I personally loved it, it did what a deep film should do, it got me thinking. It's very moving and inspiring and makes you wonder what we could all achieve if we put our minds to it.

Theme on a theme

Another holocoust inspired docudrama/film. Interesting slant and very valid in making people think, remember and get involved in something that should never ever be forgotten. Surprised that such a potentially redneck bigotted US region get behind this which gives hope. Unfailingly moving though and worth a watch.

A classroom must!

This film was recommended to me. Having seen it, I don't know why it is not better known. It should be compulsory for every school child of a certain age for its humanity and historic value. Although it seemed daunting at first, being in semi- documentary style, it soon became spellbinding as layer upon layer of emotional content was added. The overwhelming contribution and generosity of those interested in the student's project was heart-warming and intensely moving. The fact that a little school history project has led to such a momentous and continuing commitment is amazing. You'll need tissues for this one! A thought provoking and joyous movie. Watch it and spread the word!

awe inspiring

I watched this before with a group of people, there was not a dry eye in the audience.

What these children managed to create, was so awe inspiring; in today's generation you don't see many people caring or sharing sympathy for anything at all.

This is one powerful and insightful dvd.

[Highly rated reviewer]

engrossing

We were totally engrossed watching this documentary about a US school's Holocaust history project, which just grew & grew. Just how do you start to understand the industrialised murder of at least 6 million Gypsies, Jews, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, intellectually disabled people, & other 'enemies of the state'? The class decided to try to collect a paper clip for each life taken in the Holocaust, & the project spread across America & touched people all over the world. The testimony of Holocaust survivors is heart-scalding.

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Shoah suffering remembered

This is quite an amazing story brought to film. Too often our image of small-town America is shaped by the featire films and TV shows we watch, giving a very slanted and biased viewpoint of 'Hicksville' USA. We also get used to the stereotype American as being overweight, brash and crude. Worste yet are the kids, always demanding 'More, more', with little or no thought of what is going on in hte wider world. This film explodes all of those ideas.

In an attempt to better understand the suffering of the Jews during the Shoah, teachers at a small-town US school launch a project, with the help of the pupils to collect one paper clip for every Jewish personn killed during the Second World War. It is a daunting prospect, but they go for it anyway with amazing results.

This film demonstrates the way we all must put aside our prejudices and preconceptions if we are not to forget the lessons of the past. In particular, this is shown when the school receives a package from Germany of a suitcase. Inside is a large number of paper clips, each one with a personal message attached, in German, as an apology to Anne Frank and the rest of the Jewish peoples.

As a teacher who covers this subject myself and who tries to get students to empathise with the plight of all thos undergoing genocide, this is now on my list of films to show in the classroom.

[Highly rated reviewer]

A moving and inspiring film

This film made a huge impact on me.I have been to Chatanooga and got an impression of the society,which I found inward-looking and narrow-minded. This film totally reversed my view.It showed the brave and humane attempt to teach a group of 'ordinary kids' about the 'extra-ordinary'and harrowing events surrounding the Holocaust and the imaginative and inspiring project they became involved with. In the process they not only learned historical facts,but,more importantly, became aware of the dangers of prejudice and 'stereotyping'. The powerful symbol used as a Memorial to those who perished in the camps and the means by which this was achieved,were especially poignant for me as I had actually seen and entered a similar 'cattle truck' at an exhibition in Berlin at the Transport Museum...The film is a significant document in the history of Nazi Germany and a potent reminder to us all .