National Geographic’s WWII Drama ‘A Small Light’ Premieres on Disney+ in May
A new, limited series is coming to Disney+ in May. National Geographic’s A Small Light is a biographical, WWII drama, that tells the story of Miep Gies.
A Small Light
Gies aided in helping people escape the Nazi’s gaze during World War II. D23 shares that heroes like Gies cast “a small light in the darkest of times.”
Bel Powley plays Miep. The story begins when her boss Otto Frank, played by Liev Schrieber, inquires if she will assist in hiding his family from the Nazis.
True to form, Miep agrees without a second thought. She and her husband Jan, played by Joe Cole, agree to protect the family, and others, who stay hidden above Otto’s Amsterdam business.
Powley shares, “I found the character of Miep to be incredibly relatable as a young woman. She was a normal girl, who loved dancing, going out with her friends, and talking about how handsome she found her husband. She was a frivolous, fiercely independent young woman before she found herself in extreme circumstances.”
The series focuses on day-to-day life amidst harrowing circumstances. Executive Producer and Director Susanna Fogel shares, “They’re people who have rich emotional experiences… that aren’t just about the highest-stakes things that are happening, but about their relationships with each other.”
Schreiber adds, “What I thought Bel and Joe did so beautifully was the human pieces, the things that are fun to watch [like their married life]. The person who is kind of flaky actually ends up keeping the Franks alive for two years, and we see that relationship [develop] over the years.”
This project was a labor of love, in the works for almost 6 years. Don’t miss it when it comes to Disney+ in May!