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