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Series on Anne Frank story, Miep Gies continues to shine its light

Told with a modern sensibility, the show makes the story feel relevant, prompting audiences to ponder whether they could stand up to hatred.

“A Small Light,” produced by ABC Signature and Keshet Studios for National Geographic, will stream on Disney+ and Hulu. Credit: Courtesy.
“A Small Light,” produced by ABC Signature and Keshet Studios for National Geographic, will stream on Disney+ and Hulu. Credit: Courtesy.

“A Small Light,” produced by ABC Signature and Keshet Studios, launched May 1 on multiple networks with a simulcast of the first two episodes on the National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD and Lifetime channels (Freeform showed an encore presentation of the premiere episodes on May 6; the next two episodes run on May 8). For the full series run, two episodes will debut every Monday at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on National Geographic; stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu; and be available on the Nat Geo TV and ABC apps.

Based on a true story, Miep Gies (Bel Powley) was young, carefree and opinionated—at a time when opinions got you killed―when Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber) asked her to help hide his family from the Nazis during World War II. Without hesitation, Miep agreed. For the next two years, she and her husband, Jan (Joe Cole), with several other everyday heroes, watched over the Frank, van Pels and Pfeffer families hiding in the secret annex.

“When we first heard the remarkable story of Miep Gies we were gripped and deeply moved. We were also convinced that this limited series about an everyday superhero—one that most people around the world have never heard of—needed an unprecedented rollout,” said Carolyn Bernstein, EVP, Scripted and Documentary Films, National Geographic. “We are determined to bring ‘A Small Light’ to the largest global audience possible and hope this ambitious rollout across multiple networks and streaming platforms allows audiences to fall in love with and be inspired by Miep just as we have.”

Told with a modern sensibility, the show shakes the cobwebs off history and makes Miep’s story feel relevant, prompting audiences to ask what they would have done in Miep’s shoes; and in modern times, if they would have the courage to stand up to hatred. Some stood by; Miep stood up.

Additional cast includes Amira Casar, who plays Edith Frank, mother to Margot and Anne; Billie Boullet, who portrays Anne Frank; Ashley Brooke, who plays Anne’s older sister, Margot Frank; Andy Nyman as Hermann van Pels, Caroline Catz as Auguste van Pels, Rudi Goodman as Peter van Pels and Noah Taylor as Dr. Fritz Pfeffer, who all hid in the annex with the Frank family; Eleanor Tomlinson as Tess, Miep’s best friend; Sally Messham as Bep Voskuijl, Ian McElhinney as Johannes Kleiman and Nicholas Burns as Victor Kugler, Miep’s coworkers; and Liza Sadovy as Mrs. Stoppelman, Laurie Kynaston as Casmir and Sebastian Armesto as Max Stoppelman.

“A Small Light” is produced by ABC Signature and Keshet Studios for National Geographic. Executive producers and writers Joan Rater and Tony Phelan (ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” CBS’ “Fire Country”) serve as showrunners; DGA award-winner and Emmy-nominated executive producer Susanna Fogel (“The Flight Attendant,” “Cat Person”) directs multiple episodes, including the pilot; and William Harper executive-produces. For Keshet Studios, executive producers are Peter Traugott and Lisa Roos, Alon Shtruzman for Keshet International and Avi Nir for Keshet Media Group.

The next two episodes can be seen here.

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