Let the Little Light Shine

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Let the Little Light Shine

2022

1h 22m

Documentary

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100%

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9 Reviews

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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.

Peter Rainer

FilmWeek (LAist)

Sep 19, 2022

This is ultimately a very feel-good movie.

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Matt Fagerholm

RogerEbert.com

Aug 23, 2022

4/4

An explosively powerful and superbly crafted documentary.

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Dmitry Samarov

Chicago Reader

Aug 18, 2022

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

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Kathy Fennessy

Video Librarian Magazine

Mar 3, 2023

3.5/5

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.

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Matt Roush

TV Insider

Dec 17, 2022

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.

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Julian Roman

MovieWeb

Aug 29, 2022

3.5/5

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.

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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%

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Left Behind

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Accepted

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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

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