I’ve always considered myself to be a kind person, but I have felt, in recent years, a stoicism setting in. Sometimes with the constant barrage of the daily news and the general discomfort from unexpected interactions with strangers, it’s difficult to sustain a level of levity or lightness. How do you continue to have faith in your fellow man when times are so tough? T.C. Johnstone’s The Power of Small will restore any doubt you have about doing an enormous amount of good, and it will wash away that cynicism residing inside you.
How would you react if a relative or total stranger sent you a card with a check with more zeroes than you’ve ever seen? Would you be able to give away $30,000? In 2020, Terri Bullock recognized how much people were suffering, and she wanted to do something about it. Something that I love about Johnstone’s film is how straightforward it unwinds its tale. It’s direct and matter-of-fact–why don’t we shout from the rooftops that we need and want to help others?
Bullock details how she grew up with little money and how she balanced her checkbook “to the penny.” When she got married and had a family, her and her husband were able to create a comfortable life for themselves, and she admits that that union changed her perspective and daily life dramatically. When her and her husband divorced, she had accumulated a lot of knowledge and experience with money (especially after establishing herself in the banking world), but she felt a pull to do something more. When you grow up without luxuries, I think you don’t want anyone else to feel that burden. Simple kindnesses go a long way, but The Power of Small is about ambitious giving–the kind of goodness that sends ripples through someone else’s life and other communities.
Johnstone’s film introduces us to a handful of people brought into Bullock’s orbit as she gives them each a large sum of money with one simple instruction: do something good with it. There are no parameters or guidelines–everyone has freedom to pay kindness forward in their own way. Rick, a former brand specialist and marketing manager, admits that he doesn’t think he will be good at giving away money, but his attitude and obvious intelligence assures us that he will find his own path. We also meet Susan (a teacher), Adelya (a concert violinist), Will (who worked in nonprofits and education, among other things) as well as several others as they try to figure out the first steps in not just doing good things but “the right things.” Bullock selects a diverse group of people, because she understands that everyone’s perspective and life experience is different–a recognition that more people need to hold dear to themselves.
Even though The Power of Small sets its sights on the big picture, Johnstone keeps everything remarkably balanced. It’s intimate and carefully drawn, but it never loses sight of its huge mission. He approaches every kindness ambassador’s choices and journey with clarity, empathy and understanding, and Johnstone guides us with the utmost care, as if to say, ‘Have you heard about what they are doing?’ Bullock is a captivating presence, and all of the ambassadors bring their own source of natural light.
Maybe people are tentative to do more good deeds because they feel vulnerable. The Power of Small grants you permission to find that flickering source of goodness within yourself. No matter how tough things get or how dark and depressing the world becomes, that flame can never be extinguished. This film is a lifeline to the human spirit, and it will make your heart swell.
The Power of Small is available for rental beginning August 1. For more information about The TDB Family Foundation, visit their website.
