By: debbie lynn elias
UCLA film grad Jennifer Arnold brings us what I believe is one of the most inspiring films to come from the Los Angeles Film Festival. Debuting in 2010 and now available on DVD, A SMALL ACT, is a story of Chris Mburu, who grew up in impoverished areas of Kenya. Hilde Back is a German Jew who survived the Holocaust and fled to Sweden in 1940 where she became a schoolteacher. Many years ago, Back began making a monthly $15 donation which would pay for primary school education for a young Kenyan child. That child was Chris Mburu. Mburu and Back never met, didn’t communicate. The money was just sent each month to an organization approved by the Swedish government. Eventually, the program ended and Back went about her life as a teacher. But for Mburu his life was changed forever.
Given a chance at an education, Mburu was hooked on learning from Day One. He not only completed his primary school education but continued on with school, eventually making his way to Harvard, earning a law degree. He now works as a U.N. human rights lawyer fighting genocide. Seeing first hand the importance of education and how necessary education is to fight injustice in the world and to give people a chance and a leg up, Mburu determined to do something about it. Never forgetting the woman who unknowingly gave him his life, Mburu established the Hilde Back Scholarship Fund dedicated to furthering the education of the African and Kenyan youth. But, more than that, Mburu was determined to meet Hilde.
Not knowing anything about her, her background, her history, where she was located or even if she was alive, Mburu began his quest. And imagine not only his surprise, but Back’s when he ultimately found her. On being contacted by officials and told of this young man and his desire to meet her, Back barely even remembered paying the $15 a month it was so long ago. But what happened after that is the stuff that dreams are made of. You can’t tell me that Fate didn’t play a hand here. What are the odds that this young Kenyan would grow up to fight genocide and defend human rights thanks to a small gift from an unknown Holocaust survivor? You will tingle with excitement and joy at the magic and good that does exist in the world.
Interlacing the fairytale-like story of Chris and Hilde with several eighth grade students whom Mburu now hopes to help with his scholarship program, as well as addressing the failure of the Kenya’s school systems and world education as a whole, Arnold breaks the mold when it comes to the type of film we normally see talking about Africa. This is not a film about poverty or being impoverished or the have-nots. A SMALL ACT is about making a difference, no matter how small or insignificant and the ripple effect it can have. And miracles continue to happen as a result of this film as donations pour in for the scholarship fund, helping Mburu fulfill his dream and “pay it forward.” As for Chris and Hilde, just wait until you see where they are now.
