National Geographic is preparing to premiere the first two episodes of its historical drama seriesA Small Light. Based on theincredible WWII-era storyof real-life heroineMiep Gies, the show tracks how the young and carefree secretary took on the enormous responsibility of protecting the Frank family and many others from persecution following the Nazi invasion of Holland. While it seeks to highlight Gies’s unsung heroism, Collider can exclusively unveil a new clip from the second episode that shows the Frank family adjusting to living inside the Secret Annex after Gies and her husband Jan took them in.
The clip opens with Miep (Bel Powley) walking back into the house to find Anne (Billie Boullet) waiting for her. Since the family is restricted to the Annexamidst the Nazi occupation, she’s eager to know absolutely everything about what’s happening outside from how her friends are doing to what their dentist is up to. Each member of the family has a bit of a different reaction to being cooped up inside. Anne’s sister Margot (AshleyBrooke) is all doom and gloom about the prospects of the Franks ever seeing the outside world ever again. Their parents, meanwhile, are more content to try and keep living their lives. Their father Otto (Liev Schreiber) wishes to continue working and acts as the gentle yet authoritative member of the family trying to keep things afloat. Edith Frank (Amira Casar), in addition to watching over her daughters, also helps Miep out with the grocery list to ensure everyone’s needs are met.
As indicated by the clip, the first two episodes ofA Small Lightwill depict how Gies beginsto stand up and helpthe Franks and other Jewish members of the community facing persecution. She starts in the first episode with her boss Otto Frank and his family, agreeing to take them in and keep his office running in his stead. She’ll immediately face a test, however, when she’s tasked with getting Margot past a Gestapo checkpoint unnoticed. Episode 2 will see Miep learn more ways to skirt past the Nazis as she agrees to help her Jewish dentist find safety.
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The main cast of the series is rounded out by BAFTA-nominated actorJoe Colewho plays Miep’s husband Jan. As the series goes on, they’ll be joined byCaroline Catzas Mrs. van Pels,Noah Tayloras Dr. Pfeffer, andAndy Nymanas Mr. van Pelswho all become part of the Secret Annex communitywith the Frank family.
A Small LightHighlights the Heroism and Slow Onset of Hatred Often Overlooked in WWII
A Small Lightis a decidedlydifferent and fascinating takeon the well-known story of Anne Frank and her family, but it’s also a much-needed one. Collider’s ownMaggie Lovittgave the series a B+ in her review, praising the series for its well-paced exploration of the evolution of hate while giving credence to the people who stepped up to meet the measure of said hatred as it took hold. She also praised the excellent cinematography and production of the series under directorSusanna Fogeland showrunnersJoan RaterandTony Phelanthat elevate the oppressive grasp of the Nazi regime. Fogel explained the reasoning behind the seriesin a previous featurette, saying how crucial it was to examine these well-known stories from different angles in order to fully understand that these are ordinary people caught in these extraordinary circumstances and asked to do extraordinary things.
A Small Lightwill premiere its first two episodes on May 1 on National Geographic and will stream on both Hulu and Disney+. New episodes will air on Mondays. Check out the exclusive clip below.
