Watch Paper Clips

In the year 1998, the Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee initiates a project called "The Paper Clip Project." The purpose of the project is to teach students about diversity and the horrors of the Holocaust. The plan is to collect six million paper clips, which represent the six million lives lost during the Holocaust. While the project starts small, it quickly gains traction and becomes a global phenomenon.

The documentary Paper Clips, directed by Joe Fab and Elliot Berlin, chronicles the story of this project. The film follows the journey of the school's principal, Linda Hooper, and the students who spearheaded the initiative. At the project's onset, the students are unaware of the scale of the Holocaust and are curious to learn about it. The documentary shows how the students' perspectives change as they gain knowledge about the genocide.

Through interviews with Holocaust survivors, the students learn about the atrocities that took place. They also get to know the people behind the numbers and understand the magnitude of the depravity. At the same time, the project becomes a way to honor the victims and to ensure that their memories live on.

As news about the project spreads, paper clips start pouring in from all over the world. The school receives clips from a diverse range of places, including the Vatican, Australia, and Africa. The film examines the profound impact of the project on the students, the town, and the world. The diversity of the collection is a testament to the project's reach and the power of a small idea to create a movement.

The documentary also explores the role of education in promoting tolerance and preventing atrocities. It emphasizes the importance of teaching students about the Holocaust and other genocides as a way to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The project demonstrates that education can inspire empathy and compassion in students, making them more aware and responsible global citizens.

Throughout the film, the viewer witnesses the students' growing sense of responsibility and ownership of the project. They take pride in the fact that they are doing something significant and meaningful, and they feel a sense of purpose in the work they are doing. The paper clips become symbols of hope and serve as a reminder of the consequences of hate and intolerance.

The documentary features interviews with teachers, students, Holocaust survivors, and several people who sent in paper clips. Each story adds to the narrative and shows the impact that the project had on different people. It is heartening to see the way in which an idea that started small turned into a global phenomenon, touching lives across the world.

Arguably the most remarkable aspect of the project is that it was initiated and carried out by a group of middle-school students. They showed us that change can start with small actions and that young people can make a difference in the world. Through their work, they taught us about the importance of tolerance, understanding, and empathy. They demonstrated that seemingly small acts can become powerful symbols and movements.

In conclusion, Paper Clips is an inspiring documentary that tells the story of a small town in Tennessee that sparked a global movement through a simple project. The film celebrates the transformative power of education and the ways in which small acts of kindness can create a significant impact. The documentary demonstrates that even the smallest gestures can make a difference in the world. It is a moving tribute to the human spirit and a powerful commentary on the importance of tolerance and understanding.

Paper Clips is a 2004 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 64.