Watch The Starfish Throwers

The Starfish Throwers is a 2014 documentary that follows the lives of three individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in the world by feeding the hungry. Narayanan Krishnan is a chef from India who gave up a lucrative career to start a non-governmental organization (NGO) that feeds the homeless. Allan Law is a retired teacher from Minneapolis, who has been running a one-man charity for the past decade, delivering sandwiches and other foods to the homeless. And Katie Stagliano is a young girl from South Carolina whose passion for gardening led her to start a charity that donates fresh produce to soup kitchens in her community.

The film takes its title from the well-known story of the starfish thrower, in which a man sees a boy throwing starfish stranded on the beach back into the sea and tells him that his efforts won't make a difference because there are too many starfish to save. The boy responds by throwing another starfish into the sea and saying, "It made a difference for that one." This anecdote perfectly captures the spirit of the three protagonists, who recognize the enormity of the problem of hunger but refuse to be deterred from making a difference in the lives of the individuals they encounter.

The Starfish Throwers is a beautifully shot and edited film that draws the viewer into the lives of its subjects. We see Narayanan Krishnan preparing hundreds of meals a day for the homeless and interacting with the people he serves with dignity and respect. We see Allan Law riding his bike through the city at night, delivering sandwiches and other essentials to those in need, and we hear him explain why he does it: "I think everybody deserves to eat, and that's my mission in life." And we see Katie Stagliano tending to her garden and visiting the soup kitchens that benefit from her initiative, and we learn about the joy she gets from helping others.

The film also explores the broader social and economic issues that underlie the problem of hunger, such as poverty, inequality, and food waste. We see the contrast between the opulent banquets cooked by Narayanan Krishnan for his wealthy clients and the meager meals he provides for the destitute. We see the contradictions of a society where food is abundant but hunger is rampant. And we see the impact of these issues on the lives of the people who are on the front lines of feeding the hungry.

One of the most moving scenes in the film is when Narayanan Krishnan encounters a homeless man who is so hungry that he is eating his own excrement. Krishnan immediately springs into action, cleaning the man and taking him to a nearby hospital for medical attention. It is a harrowing moment that highlights the desperation and degradation that accompany hunger, but it is also a moment of profound compassion and humanity.

Throughout the film, we see how the efforts of Narayanan Krishnan, Allan Law, and Katie Stagliano inspire others to get involved in the fight against hunger. We see volunteers working alongside Krishnan in his kitchen, we see tourists stopping to help Law on his nightly deliveries, and we see schoolchildren learning about gardening and nutrition from Stagliano. This is one of the film's most important messages: that no matter how overwhelming a problem may seem, there is always something that individuals can do to make a difference.

The Starfish Throwers is a powerful and uplifting film that reminds us of the importance of compassion, empathy, and action in the face of injustice. Its three main subjects are inspiring in their dedication to feeding the hungry, and the film itself is a testament to the power of storytelling to effect positive change. It is a must-see for anyone who cares about social justice, human dignity, and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.

The Starfish Throwers is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.1.