 Perhaps you’ve heard the parable about the selfless individual who throws beached starfish back into the ocean, undaunted at their infinite number (the punch line: “It made a difference to that one”). It’s a cliché peppered into commencement speeches and fundraising appeals, but never has the lesson been more vividly illustrated than in Jesse Roesler’s awe-inspiring, beautifully shot documentary about real-life “starfish throwers.” Focusing on three saintly individuals in Minnesota, South Carolina, and India, The Starfish Throwers is a humbling and unforgettable reminder that the people who are making the most difference in the world don’t have grand visions to be the next Mother Teresa, they just have simple desires to help those in need. They are ordinary in their motivation to help, but extraordinary in their selflessness, hope, and resiliency in the face of judgment or cynicism from those who offer the “right” solutions to the world’s problem from the comfort of their couch. Roesler’s film is humble in its own right, letting the compassion on screen speak for itself without even a whiff of self-righteous preaching, politicking, or moralizing about society’s ills. The Starfish Throwers will be particularly convicting for Minnesotans, many of whom will for the first time bear witness to the remarkable work being done by retired Minneapolis teacher Allan Law. |  MSPIFF Thursday, April 10, 7:00pm Saturday, April 12, 4:00pm Director: Jesse Roesler Producers: Jesse Roesler, Melody Gilbert Cinematographer: Jesse Roesler Editor: Bill Kersey Cast: Allan Law, Katie Stagliano, Narayanan Krishnan Runtime: 83m. Genre: Documentary Countries: USA/India Premiere: March 16, 2014 – Thessaloniki Documentary Festival |
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