Cleveland International Film Festival } March 22 – April 1, 2023 } Playhouse Square
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A Simple Piece of Paper

Year: 2014
Country: United States
Run Time: 57 minutes

A Simple Piece of Paper
A Simple Piece of Paper
A Simple Piece of Paper
A Simple Piece of Paper

In 2011 Illinois passed State House Bill 5428. It allowed Adult Adopted Persons to finally have a copy of their original birth certificates, making Illinois the largest state to reverse sealed record laws. While opponents of the Bill managed to include a “firewall,” letting birth parents opt out of revealing their names, the law opened the door for hundreds of people to access much desired and sometimes very important personal details. This deeply emotional documentary follows over a dozen individuals as they apply to the State of Illinois to discover the truth about their origins. Whether from a desire to know their biological family or the need to know genetic medical history, the film charts this pivotal moment in their lives. We are present when they receive their birth certificates and react to what is revealed. We also share the sometimes sad, sometimes wonderful results of these revelations. Thought-provoking and ultimately joyful, this film demonstrates how A SIMPLE PIECE OF PAPER can forever alter the course of a life. —C.R.

CIFF38 Screenings

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 4:20 PM

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 11:45 AM

Sidebar
Standing Up Films

Genres
Documentary Features
Recommended for High School +

Competitions
Reel Women Direct Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman
Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition

Director
Jean Strauss

Jean Strauss was adopted as a baby and grew up in California. She studied at the New York Film Academy. A writer, producer, cinematographer, editor, and director, Strauss is also a legislative activist. She founded the California Adoption Reform Effort. In 2009 the American Adoption Congress named her the recipient of the Emma Vilardi Humanitarian Award for her work in legislation reform and in film.

Filmography
"For the Life of Me" (2009)—34th CIFF, A SIMPLE PIECE OF PAPER (2014)

Producer
Jean Strauss

Screenwriting
Jean Strauss

Cinematography
Jean Strauss

Editing
Jean Strauss

Film Contact

Silver Tandem Productions

jeanstraussfilms@gmail.com

www.jeanstrauss.com

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