The seemingly ordinary P.S. 22 in Staten Island, New York, became extraordinary for a group of fifth graders when a woman in a black blazer strolled into the elementary school in late 2010 and invited the P.S. 22 Chorus to perform “Over the Rainbow” at the 2011 Academy Awards.
The woman was none other than actress (and Oscar host) Anne Hathaway. Not surprisingly, the kids erupted in screams, tears, and laughter.
Director Jonathan Kalafer's 80-minute documentary Once in a Lullaby chronicles the adventures of the 2010-11 chorus in the weeks leading up to that momentous evening, from after-school rehearsals to last-minute jitters on Oscar night.
Despite their tumultuous response, the kids were not entirely surprised by Hathaway's offer. The chorus had been in the national spotlight for several years after building an impressive Internet following (25 million hits on YouTube). Good Morning America, Nightline, and other shows also featured the chorus, which New York magazine called “the best-known elementary-school chorus on the planet.”...