A Small Light is a National Geographic docuseries (hosted on Disney+) following the story of Miep Gies, who helped hide the Frank family and their associates during World War II and the Holocaust.
The show’s pilot episode introduces Miep Gies, portrayed by Bel Powley, and her background story. Gies is mainly known for assisting in hiding the Franks and many other Jewish families. Many may not know that a Dutch family adopted her as a child and tried to marry her to her gay adoptive brother.
While the docuseries mainly focuses on Miep and her work of hiding those in the annex, it also highlights the courageous work of her husband, Jan Gies, portrayed by Joe Cole, who worked to save countless children and adults alike.
The series was filmed with the viewer in mind. Upon watching all of the episodes, I couldn’t help but notice that every emotion a character felt, I felt with them: joy, fear, sadness, curiosity, longing. The biggest thing was the emphasis on hope. One can always find hope in dark times, whether it is within themselves or within a person around them.
The viewer must remember that these are not just characters but are actual people. It is humbling to think of what they had to go through and to then experience that through the magic of television. In this day and age, we tend to take things for granted. If our phone comes close to dying, we panic. Now imagine, instead of your phone, it’s you. That is what these people went through. The people in the annex could have died every time there was a search or if someone made a noise. Ultimately, seven of the eight Jewish people hiding there did.
Otto Frank, played by Liev Schreiber, was the one survivor of the group that hid in the annex for 716 days. In the final episode, the viewer sees the aftermath of the war. Those who were captured and lucky enough to survive came home. We watch as Otto, Miep and Jan journey to find Otto’s girls, Anne (Billie Boullet) and Margot (Ashley Brooke). Then the viewer is hit with a metaphorical brick. Yes, we know that Anne and Margot did not survive Bergen-Belsen, but seeing the emotions of finding that out is heart-wrenching to any viewer.
Otto went on to publish Anne’s diary, which is why this series has cultural relevance today.
The series holds true to the facts we already know from history lessons, but it creates a deeper understanding of what people went through. It also deepens our knowledge of Miep Gies, a courageous soul who always tried to do the right thing.
Overall, this series moved me to my core. Never have I ever seen such a masterfully created scene. It takes a lot for me to pay attention to a series fully, but I never missed a second of an episode of this one. While it does have a more somber, dark undertone, I feel that the reminders of hope and light creatively counterbalance that. I recommend that everyone watch this series. It could teach you a thing or two.
Miep Gies lived to 100 years of age. She toured, talking to young people about her experiences and encouraging them to stand up for what is right. She always ended her speeches with this quote: “But even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can, within their own small ways, turn on a small light in a dark room,” proving that anyone can always do something extraordinary with the smallest action.
