“Alana DeJoseph and her team have done Americans a great service with their film A Towering Task. In telling the story of the Peace Corps, they have captured a moment and movement that revealed to ourselves – and the world – America at its best. Peace Corps Volunteers carry two passports: one stamped USA, the other as a citizen of the world at large. In going forth to serve and learn, in dozens of countries, then coming home more keenly aware of the global community, they have shown us how both politics and patriotism can be saved from toxic self-absorption. See this film and you will be asking what we can do for our country.”

Bill Moyers, A founding organizer of the Peace Corp, ‘6l

“"A Towering Task" puts a human face on the Peace Corps - and makes sense of its history of idealism, improvisation, politics, and at times its failings. It is the most coherent and satisfying documentary I know, of the Peace Corps, and I can't imagine a better one.”

Paul Theroux, American travel writer and novelist

“As a RPVC I enjoyed the memories it recalled and the opportunity to learn more about the Peace Corps’ history in the time since I served. I was impressed by the scope of the film: the deft way that you wove together the essence of the Peace Corps experience, important milestones in its history, illuminating interviews, and wide-ranging visual images. Thank you for sharing this excellent and evocative film.”

Bob Haas, Chairman Emeritus, Levi Strauss & Co

"I knew the Peace Corps was the best thing that ever happened to my mother, but it took this film to educate me on what an extraordinary undertaking it was back in the 1960s -- and continues to be. Long live the Peace Corps!"

Ethan Hawke, American Actor, Writer, Musician, and Director, May 28, 2020

“The premiere of the Peace Corps’ new documentary, A Towering Task, was moving and magnificent. The music, the village scenes, and the narrative delivered by so many people that I love literally brought tears to our eyes and we were often choked up. We felt like it was all a soundtrack of our lives as we have continued our work for peace, food security, working in famine camps, agriculture, environment, health, and education around the world.”

Patti and US Congressman John Garamendi, Ethiopia 1966-1968

“Gary said it was excellent, well done, and most importantly for me, said it gave an idea of what it was like to be a Volunteer....He was not an RPCV but has heard Peace Corps stories for years. This is the first time, he said he now had an idea of what it was like to be a Volunteer..”

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer at Denver Film Festival Screening

“An epic story of the Peace Corps - a political survey of its history.”

Taylor Hackford, American Film Director

"This movie was so inspiring that I immediately looked up the Peace Corps eligibility requirements, and I was already renting out my house in my head."

Suzanne K. Taylor

“What an incredible movie. Teri and I were really moved by the incredible odyssey the agency has wended over the years, and through it all how the passion for what its purposes are have continued to claw back to the surface in spite of the wrinkles and setbacks. You and your team have created such a great visual story of a thread through the last six decades that gives us hope that the values we want our country to live by may actually survive."

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

“"A Towering Task" documentary held me spell bound from beginning to end. Alana DeJoseph, Producer, amassed many news broadcasts and video clips from early years that I had never before seen. Together they set the context and helped viewers understand Peace Corps for the innovative initiative it was at the time.”

Pat Wand, Co-Chair, Museum of the Peace Corps Experience

“Just watched it again. It was even better than I remembered. You did an astounding job.”

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

“I served in the Central African Republic 1987-1989. I have read several books about the Peace Corps since returning home, but this film was full of facts I had not known. Thank you.”

Nancy A. Thome, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

“The movie portrays the motivation and values of the Peace Corps’ volunteers that are otherwise difficult to grasp. As someone who never served in the Peace Corps, I spent a decade with RPCVs before I had that level of understanding.”

Niels Thorwirth, husband of a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

“I just watched your film from start to finish. I made myself a long list of things to do today and my plan was to watch some of your movie, and then do some other things. But once I started watching, I just paused the movie once for more coffee and continued watching the entire film. It was great.”

Gary Shaye, Senior Director, Save the Children