If there was such a post as “Documentarian-Laureate” of the USA, I’d nominate Errol Morris, though after his latest feature, Standard Operating Procedure, there would likely be a lot of backlash from the pro-America crowd. <Sigh>. Still the man is a genius, and  here he puts his talent into the service of a non-controversial cause, raising awareness for Stand Up To Cancer, an advocacy group lobbying for more research and funding to beat the disease.

Errol Morris’ genius is not flashy—this film clocks in at 8 minutes and is simply people talking in front of a black backdrop. Yet his genius is evident, revealed by the power of the performances he coaxes and the cohesive narrative he is able to knit out of the experiences of dozens. The film is titled Survivors, and that’s who these people are—people who beat the disease and the loved ones of those who did not.