Director Nick Davis discusses the genesis of his new documentary YOU HAD TO BE THERE about the how Toronto production of Godspell launched so many iconic comedy careers. Read more at link in bio.
YOU HAD TO BE THERE screens Sunday, May 3rd at 11:30am
MOVIE REVIEW
This Ordinary Thing
NR - 4.5 out of 5 stars
Genre: Documentary, History
Year Released: 2025, 2026
Runtime: 1h 2m
Director(s): Nick Davis
Where to Watch: a VOD Release to follow nationwide in the US and Canada on March 31, 2026
RAVING REVIEW: History tends to remember the villains. Their cruelty becomes the defining image of an era, their actions etched into textbooks and the collective memory. But history is rarely made by monsters alone. Sometimes it’s shaped with a whisper, in kitchens and basements, by ordinary people who decide that cruelty will not be the final word. THIS ORDINARY THING exists to remind us of those people.
Nick Davis’ documentary explores the stories of non-Jews across Europe who risked everything during the Holocaust to save Jewish lives. These weren’t soldiers or political leaders. They were neighbors, farmers, teachers, and strangers who made the decision, often in a moment, to protect someone targeted for extermination. Many of them hid families in their homes, smuggled children across borders, or forged documents that gave people a chance to survive. None of them believed they were heroes.
That modesty becomes the backbone of the film. The individuals honored throughout the documentary are often referred to as “The Righteous,” people later recognized for rescuing strangers at enormous personal risk. There were more than twenty thousand such individuals recognized at Yad Vashem, each with their own story of courage and defiance. Davis constructs the film around a small handful of those testimonies. The accounts come from archival interviews and historical records, brought to life through an extraordinary ensemble of actors who read from the original transcripts. The roster is almost overwhelming: Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, Carrie Coon, Stephen Fry, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Camp, Marcia Gay Harden, and many others lend their voices to these real-life stories.
It’s an unusual approach for a documentary, but it works remarkably well...
My full review on my Letterboxd and www.OHMR.us
#OverlyHonestReviews #thatordinarything
AladinoTV Exclusive — One-on-One with Nick Davis and Jane Meldensohn
NEW YORK — AladinoTV sat down with filmmakers Nick & Jane to discuss their powerful documentary “You Have to Be There”, a film capturing the raw, unfiltered emotion of shared human experience.
Davis describes the project as “A group of unknown actors who were on a production of the Musical Godspell.” “Which was sort of hippie dippy musical about the life of Jesus” he told Aladino TV.
The documentary blends intimate interviews with cinéma vérité-style footage, immersing audiences in moments that can’t be replicated through a screen. Davis says the title reflects the film’s core message: some experiences demand physical presence and emotional openness.
Early viewers have praised the documentary’s authenticity and emotional depth. As festival buzz builds, “You Have to Be There” is resonating with audiences seeking stories that remind them why real-life moments still matter.
Reporting exclusively, for AladinoTV.
#aladinotv #youhavetobethere #nickdavis #documentary #NYCFF
The energy was electric at Asylum NYC for the opening night of the New York Comedy Film Festival! 🎭 @nycomedyfilmfestival
We kicked things off with the NYC premiere of “You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution.” The laughs started on the red carpet and didn’t stop until the credits rolled.
Swipe for a glimpse of the faces behind the laughs.
NY Comedy Festival runs February 15-22, 2026.
@youhadtobetherefilm@janemendelsohnwriter@nickdavispro@theasylumnyc@aladino.tv
02.15.2026.
#nycomedyfilmfestival #womeninfilm #indiefilm #youhadtobetherefilm #asylumnyc
Opening Night. Sold out. 🎟️
Before the lights go down, hear from director Nick Davis @nickdavispro on the moment, the movement, and the unlikely chain reaction that helped shape modern comedy. You Had to Be There kicks off NYCFF 2026 tonight with a full house—and a story that proves community is where the funny really starts.
If you missed this screening… well, you already know the title. #NewYorkComedyFilmFestival #NYCFF
SOLD OUT
YES, our special premiere of THIS ORDINARY THING at the Miami Jewish Film Festival is officially SOLD OUT. THANK YOU @miamijff for including our film.
The Miami Jewish Film Festival, the world’s largest Jewish and Israeli film festival, is taking place now through Thursday, January 29, with a variety of screenings in Miami Beach.
SOLD OUT SOUTHEAST US PREMIERE
📽️ This Ordinary Thing
Wednesday, Jan. 28 | 8 PM | O Cinema South Beach
This Ordinary Thing
Southeast US Premiere
Across Europe, in the midst of humanity’s darkest hour, light persisted in unexpected places. This Ordinary Thing brings to vivid life the true testimonies of over forty men and women who risked everything to save Jews during the Holocaust—ordinary people who chose compassion over fear, and humanity over hatred.
Featuring an extraordinary ensemble cast—Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, F. Murray Abraham, Jeannie Berlin, Eric Bogosian, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Camp, Carrie Coon, Hope Davis, Stephen Fry, Marcia Gay Harden, Stephen Lang, John Leguizamo, and Lily Tomlin—the film gives voice to those who quietly defied evil through simple, selfless acts of courage.
Through powerful readings and intimate storytelling, This Ordinary Thing reveals the quiet heroism that rippled across a continent engulfed in cruelty. Many of these rescuers would later be honored at Yad Vashem’s Avenue of the Righteous, where trees grow in their memory. Elegantly performed and deeply moving, This Ordinary Thing is a testament to the enduring strength of conscience—and a reminder that even the smallest act of goodness can change the course of history.
#TOTdoc #ThisOrdinaryThingDOC #documentary
#theholocaust #jewish
miamijewishfilmfestival.org/films/2026/this-ordinary-thing
Official Selection of the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival:
YOU HAD TO BE THERE - Directed by Nick Davis
For more information download the festival app.
#sbiff #santabarbara #sbiff2026 @nickdavispro@juddapatow@janemendelsohnwriter
Thank you, TIFF! It was such a thrill to have our World Premiere at the Royal Alex - the same theater that started it all!
📸 Geoff Fitzgerald/Mi Productions
