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“A complex portrait of a man who cares more for humanity
than for his own children,” - New York Times
” Bronner’s life is the stuff that movies are made of” - Tree Hugger.com

cosmos

“Sara Lamm’s modest yet moving doc outweirds fiction.” - Time Out
“makes for a fascinating documentary” - NY Magazine
” An unforgettable narrative of endurance and family ties.”
- Very Short List
“the documentary leaves you feeling hopeful and tingly all over.”
- Slant Magazine

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The Documentary

Dr. Emanuel Bronner was a master soapmaker, self-proclaimed rabbi, and, allegedly, Albert Einstein’s nephew.

In 1947, after escaping from a mental institution, he invented the formula for “Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap,” a peppermint-infused, all-natural, multi-purpose liquid that can be found today in every American health food store. On each bottle of his soap, he printed an ever-evolving set of teachings he called “The Moral ABC,” designed, in his words, “TO UNITE ALL MANKIND FREE!”

A human story about a socially responsible company, “Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox” documents the complicated family legacy behind the counterculture’s favorite cleaning product — Bronner’s son, 68-year-old Ralph, endured over 15 orphanages and foster homes as a child, but despite difficult memories, is his father’s most ardent fan…