A Small Light

I've watched several episodes, and feel compelled to continue with this series, which is based on real people in Europe during World War II. The writing is effective and well paced. With the difficult themes, it would be easy for the writers to be overly sentimental or strong-handed with morality issues, but they've wisely avoided these traps. The script offers engaging dialogue and realistic scenes, brimming with empathy while reflecting the terrible dilemma of that time. I'm impressed with the cast, particularly Bel Powley, Joe Cole, and Liev Schreiber. The costumes, set design, and cinematography are all quite fitting.

This show will both make you feel and hold you captive. I've cried every episode, sometimes out of sadness, but more often out of hope. The hope that in reality too that some may dare to stand up in the difficult times, with a determination to keep on giving despite the risk. However, for me, it doesn't matter one bit if this story is true or not, because the significance is in how well the acting, writing, and everything else immerses me in the time and made me believe in the characters. This shows message resonates strongly in the heart, for it represents well that one small light can make a world of difference. Sacrifice in the name of love.

Started to watch only because I adore Bel Pawley, who absolutely SHINES in this role. Never heard the story of Miep Geis & although familiar w the Anne Frank story, This is all new material for me. A must watch!

Didn't recognize Liev Schreiber, playing Mr Frank. You truly want to love this man & you reallly feel the weight he must burden. Joe Cole also does a great job as Mieps husband. All of the cast is brilliant.

Cinematography brilliant. Wardrobe spot on as are the locations.

The story is very interesting & even though it's a dark place in history, there is much lightness. Couldn't stop watching. Just finished Ep#4.

It tells the story of the Frank family through the eyes of Miep Gies, the woman who helped them hide. I'm on Episode 4 and I'm so hooked. The casting is phenomenal, Bel Powley's magnetic performance as the heroic and empathetic Miep is truly Emmy-worthy, Joe Cole is fantastic as Jan, Liev Schreiber captured the subtle yet fatherly nuances of Otto Frank and Billie Boullet is so effective as the rebellious but charming Anne. I love how they focus the shift on Miep's story and we get to know her more, though they are liberties taken. We saw the war through her eyes and all the sacrifices she and Jan had to make to be a beacon of hope and a small light to the downtrodden in the midst of all this evil. This is one of the best portrayal of WW2 and Holocaust. Episode 3 made me cry and I'm sure I'll be shedding some tears in the coming episodes, especially when the Franks are discovered. I simply don't have enough words how much I love the series. It deserves more attention.

With only 2 episodes released at the time I'm writing this, I can't vouch for the entire season.. but I'm LOVING it So far! Cinematography is a great mix of artsy/creative and mainstream- artsy for me and mainstream enough for me to watch with my mom who isn't into a lot of the dark and "weird" shows I like. I really appreciate the balance of tension and pure emotion the writers are managing to build in a story we all know.

I'm the type of viewer that can't enjoy other elements properly if bad acting takes me out of the story... but this has been wonderfully cast! Otto, and Miep have been truly incredible so far, and I look forward to exploring the other characters in the coming episodes!

I felt the need to write this review because the only other written review is 1 star based on it not being historically accurate... and I can't stress this enough, ACCURACY /= A GREAT SHOW. A Small Light has managed to portray a horrific, and already thoroughly told, point of history from a different perspective. For everyone who sat in history class and said "I would have done xyz if I was around when nazis were committing war crimes", this gives peek into what that would have been like to actually make those tough choices... and the story is captivating regardless if it's an actual diary from the time.

This is a clear step forward in Hulu's originals track record, 100% recommend!