Draft:This Ordinary Thing
documentary film about non-Jews who helped Jews during the Holocaust
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This Ordinary Thing is a 2025 American documentary film directed and produced by Nick Davis. The film examines the stories of non-Jewish individuals who rescued Jews during the Holocaust, often called the righteous among the nations, combining archival materials with contemporary voice performances by an ensemble cast of actors.
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Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. DoublePopD2003 (talk) 23:28, 22 February 2026 (UTC)
| This Ordinary Thing | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Nick Davis |
| Produced by | Nick Davis and Albert M. Tapper |
| Edited by | Josh Freed |
| Music by | Adam Guettel |
Production company | Series of Dreams |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film was nominated for the Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary of the Year at the 2026 Cinema for Peace Awards in Berlin.[1]
Synopsis
This Ordinary Thing tells the stories of non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Through dramatized narration based on historical testimony, the film focuses on the personal motivations and ethical convictions of rescuers rather than on perpetrators or political leaders.
The documentary emphasizes themes of moral courage, individual responsibility, and shared humanity.
Cast
The film features voice performances by:
Production
The film was independently produced over several years, from an idea by Executive Producer Albert M. Tapper. All of the voice performance work was recorded remotely. Two days of recreation footage was shot, in the woods of New Jersey.
Release
The film premiered in 2025 and screened at festivals and community events in the United States and internationally.
In February 2026, the film was presented during the Cinema for Peace Awards in Berlin as a nominee for Documentary of the Year.[2]
Reception
The film has received critical attention for its focus on moral courage and humanitarian themes.
A review in Stage and Cinema described the film as a reflective examination of ordinary individuals confronted with extraordinary moral decisions. "Do we really need another film about Jews and Nazis? The answer is a resounding yes. This is a story that must continue to be told, heard, and remembered. Do yourself a favor — see This Ordinary Thing." [3]
In a review for The Forward, Simi Horwitz wrote that This Ordinary Thing "shines a light on the often forgotten heroes" of the Holocaust era, and praised the film for avoiding familiar Holocaust-documentary conventions by foregrounding rescuers rather than perpetrators and victims.[4]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Date | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinema for Peace Awards | 16 February 2026 | Cinema for Peace Dove – The Most Valuable Documentary of the Year | Nominated | [5] |