A Small Light

I once visited the Anne Frank museum house in Amsterdam in Netherlands as a tourist, and learnt briefly about how a family tried to survive through World War II and the genocide. I left the place with questions - why didn't more people try to save the innocent? What would I have done if I was living through that war?

This drama film series, based on actual events, was released by National Geographic / Disney+ in early May 2023. At the time of my review, I have watched the initial episodes, and am now waiting eagerly for the remaining episodes to be released.

The main characters are well developed and deeply portrayed. Anne Frank is not the main character in this drama film; instead it is about the other people who were not famous (people like the rest of us).

Faced with difficulties, challenges and adversity, what would we do in similar circumstances? It's not always obvious. And so, when you see a main character make a right choice, to endure difficulty and to choose human kindness, it can be moving and uplifting.

The director, script writer, cinematographer, crew and actors should be proud of their work. This show, which covers a dark and fearful period, provides hope and meaning.

A light, no matter how small, can fill up darkness. That's the theme of this drama film - if each one of us can be a small light, whether back in history or in our current world, that's all that's needed to make the difference.

"A Small Light" is a profound and moving retelling of the Anne Frank story that gifts her tale to another generation. The mini-series narrates the history of the Frank family in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam as seen through the eyes of Miep Gies, one of the heroic people who aided in their concealment. The daring resolution to portray Anne as a minor role is bold and grants a successful result.

The series is a profile of extreme courage, illuminating the bravery of those who stood up to evil in the face of great danger. The acting in "A Small Light" is superb, with Bel Powley and Liev Schreiber delivering standout performances. The direction is excellent, and the cinematography and production design are top-notch. The score is hauntingly beautiful, and the editing and pace are well-done. The dialogue is poignant and moving, and the themes of courage, gratitude, and integrity are powerfully conveyed.

Watching "A Small Light" evokes profound anguish, primarily because we know how it ends. However, amidst this sorrow and loss, the series skilfully intertwines moments of defiance, humour, and perseverance, which serve as glimmering beacons of hope. It stands as a powerful testament to the scars borne by humanity and the dire consequences that arise when individuals fail to confront evil. "A Small Light" is a charming, poignant drama and a powerful, moving series that inspires and uplifts you.

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.

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!

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.