Let the Little Light Shine

Play trailer

2:00

Let the Little Light Shine

Released Aug 12, 2022

1h 22m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

When city planners impose unwanted changes, one person can easily feel helpless -- but a group of people with a common cause just might find enough collective strength to fight the power. LET THE LITTLE LIGHT SHINE tells the story of the parents, students, administrators and students of Chicago's National Teachers Academy, a high-performing public elementary school in an African-American neighborhood, who join forces in an effort to do just that. When the powers that be announce plans to phase out NTA's current K-8 curriculum and transform it into a high school drawing students from other schools, the community senses gentrification at work and gets organized. Kevin Shaw's riveting documentary captures the struggle to save NTA through all its highs and lows -- introducing us to charismatic young leaders taking a stand to protect their academic futures.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

This is ultimately a very feel-good movie.

Sep 19, 2022

Full Review

Matt Fagerholm

RogerEbert.com

An explosively powerful and superbly crafted documentary.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 23, 2022

Full Review

Dmitry Samarov

Chicago Reader

It would have been easy to cast heroes and villains in black and white, but Shaw’s film shows the whole spectrum.

Aug 18, 2022

Full Review

Kathy Fennessy

Video Librarian Magazine

Chicago native Kevin Shaw's stirring documentary recounts the struggle of the city's majority-Black National Teacher's Academy to stay open after a rash of elementary school closings in Black and Latino neighborhoods.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 3, 2023

Full Review

Matt Roush

TV Insider

Let the Little Light Shine reminds us that when a child’s education is at stake, no one can afford to stay on the sidelines.

Dec 17, 2022

Full Review

Julian Roman

MovieWeb

Let the Little Light Shine tells a powerfully emotional, David versus Goliath story of a prestigious school's struggle to survive. It strikes at the heart of divisive issues. Racism and gentrification stew in the pot of Chicago's malaise.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 29, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Kevin Shaw

Director

Rachel Dickson

Producer

Kevin Shaw

Producer

Steve James

Executive Producer

Chris White

Executive Producer

Erika Dilday

Executive Producer

Off and Running

88%

73%

Off and Running

Watchlist

Left Behind

%

%

Left Behind

Watchlist

Accepted

95%

86%

Accepted

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Accepted

The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales

94%

60%

The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales

Watchlist

Minding the Gap

100%

90%

Minding the Gap

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Minding the Gap

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Let the Little Light Shine: Trailer 1

2:00

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

When city planners impose unwanted changes, one person can easily feel helpless -- but a group of people with a common cause just might find enough collective strength to fight the power. LET THE LITTLE LIGHT SHINE tells the story of the parents, students, administrators and students of Chicago's National Teachers Academy, a high-performing public elementary school in an African-American neighborhood, who join forces in an effort to do just that. When the powers that be announce plans to phase out NTA's current K-8 curriculum and transform it into a high school drawing students from other schools, the community senses gentrification at work and gets organized. Kevin Shaw's riveting documentary captures the struggle to save NTA through all its highs and lows -- introducing us to charismatic young leaders taking a stand to protect their academic futures.

Director: Kevin Shaw
Producer: Rachel Dickson, Kevin Shaw
Distributor: Argot Pictures
Production Co: ITVS International
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 2022, Limited
Runtime: 1h 22m

Most Popular at Home Now