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Paper Clips

Play trailer Poster for Paper Clips G 2004 1h 22m Documentary War Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Searching for an effective way to teach their students about the scale of the Holocaust, school officials in Tennessee devise a unique class project involving paper clips. The middle school students in a rural, heavily Christian community begin collecting the paper clips to represent the Jews who perished in concentration camps in World War II. After millions of the paper clips are collected, the last step is to place them inside a German rail car, a poignant echo of the Final Solution.

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Paper Clips

Paper Clips

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Critics Consensus

A touching, though somewhat flat, documentary that follows a homogenous class of white Protestant eighth graders as they learn the importance of tolerance by erecting a monument to the 6 million victims of the Holocaust.

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Critics Reviews

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Mary Brennan Seattle Times 03/25/2005
2.5/4
It's a remarkable story, and well worth seeing, particularly for its handful of genuinely affecting moments. Go to Full Review Jonathan Curiel San Francisco Chronicle 03/04/2005
3.5/4
What makes Paper Clips so powerful and moving is the way everyone in the film seems affected by the Whitwell project. The students change. The teachers change. The townspeople change. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 02/25/2005
3/4
Not a sophisticated or very challenging film, nor should it be. It is straightforward, heartfelt and genuine. Go to Full Review Sandie Angulo Chen Common Sense Media 12/31/2010
4/5
Docu is the best introduction to the Holocaust for tweens. Go to Full Review Matthew Turner ViewLondon 10/14/2006
2/5
Interesting and frequently moving documentary but it misses several opportunities to widen the scope and make some important points. Go to Full Review Rachel Gordon Filmcritic.com 03/23/2006
4/5
the message attached is genuine and worth listening to Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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03/05/2016 This documentary shows what is missing within our educational system throughout the United States of America. For educators, students and parents to have the insight to create and be part of a project that teaches the viewers of histories darkest and most horrific years is admirable. The America educational system has forgotten that creating and distributing text books with omissions that fail to address the Holocaust and the inhumanity of man is a black mark itself on today's educational system. I know there is still hope when viewing such a documentary which brings awareness to not only eight graders but to their community and all those who refuse stand by and allow history to be silenced . Manny Vider,, American Jewish War Veterans at www: ajwv.org See more 12/27/2015 A great documentary about tolerance. See more 05/27/2014 There are some very touching moments in this documentary about a middle school in a small Tennessee town which decides to do a special project related to learning about the Holocaust. See more 04/07/2014 A story about a small town in America changed the world with paperclips See more 04/27/2013 Extraordinarily moving... not only for what it says about history and tolerance, but also for what it says about students and education. It makes me want to be a better teacher. Grade: A See more 03/11/2013 Moving film, in that these kids were exposed to so much history, and became part of it, while learning... See more Read all reviews
Paper Clips

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Cast & Crew

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Joe Fab

Director

Elliot Berlin

Director

Tom Bosley

Actor

Joe Fab

Writer

Bob Weinstein

Executive Producer

Harvey Weinstein

Executive Producer

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Paper Clips

A scene from the film "Paper Clips." A scene from the film "Paper Clips." A scene from the film "Paper Clips." A scene from the film "Paper Clips." Paper Clips (2004) Paper Clips (2004) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Searching for an effective way to teach their students about the scale of the Holocaust, school officials in Tennessee devise a unique class project involving paper clips. The middle school students in a rural, heavily Christian community begin collecting the paper clips to represent the Jews who perished in concentration camps in World War II. After millions of the paper clips are collected, the last step is to place them inside a German rail car, a poignant echo of the Final Solution.
Director
Joe Fab, Elliot Berlin
Producer
Joe Fab, Robert M. Johnson, Ari Daniel Pinchot
Screenwriter
Joe Fab
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Ergo Entertainment, Johnson Group Production
Rating
G
Genre
Documentary, War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 2, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 18, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.1M
Runtime
1h 22m