‘This Ordinary Thing:’ A Sneak Peek At the Upcoming Documentary

The Contending presents a sneak peek at the upcoming documentary This Ordinary Thing.

Haunting and unforgettable, This Ordinary Thing tells the story of non-Jews who helped save Jewish people across Europe during The Holocaust. The film combines never-before-seen archival footage with the testimonies of over forty different people who, operating independently and at great risk to themselves and their families, saved thousands of Jewish strangers from almost certain death.

This Ordinary Thing is a timely reminder of the pockets of goodness that can rise in a sea of evil: everyday people helping others who were “different” from them. The film employs some of the world’s greatest actors, performing excerpts translated from the original transcripts. The cast, including Helen Mirren, F. Murray Abraham, Carrie Coon, Jeremy Irons, Ellen Burstyn, and Stephen Fry, have amassed five Oscars (and over twenty nominations), over sixty Emmy nominations, and over twenty-five Tony nominations in their illustrious careers.

Nominated for the Cinema for Peace Dove for Documentary of the Year at the 2026 Cinema for Peace Awards in Berlin.

This Ordinary Thing releases nationwide on VOD on all major platforms in the US and Canada on June 12.