Short films have a history of both fostering experimentation and serving as a springboard for eventual giants (Chaplin, Spielberg, Scorsese, Lucas, et al).

Here’s one I thought was particularly mindful:

The film was shot entirely on-location at MacLaren Children’s Center in Los Angeles, a ghost-of-a-facility (now closed) seemingly more troubled than the kids it was meant to help.

Short Term 12 is about Denim, the supervisor of a residential facility that houses kids who are affected by child abuse and neglect. As Denim is able to keep things under control at the facility, his personal life crumbles around him and he soon realizes he is no better than the kids he is trying to help.

Short Term 12 was recently awarded the U.S. Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, one of 96 films selected for the shorts program (hand-picked from a record-breaking pool of 5,632 submissions). Short Term 12, however, single-handedly reminds us that our troubles may be exactly what qualifies us to get involved in the lives of others.

Even if life’s a busy mess, takepart and bring a kid to work! Or perhaps spend time with children who have a parent, guardian or influential relative incarcerated at the state or federal prison level.

Learn more about Short Term 12 and its writer/director, Destin Daniel Cretton.