★★★
Classification: 15
While Knock Down the House tells the stories of four women hoping to change how American politics favour the establishment, this is a documentary detailing the origins of Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez is now a divisive figure in American politics but director Rachel Leans really shows a humanising origin for the future congresswoman. Leans also build a well crafted narrative mostly focusing on Cortez and Paula Jean Swearagin that displays the personal trials and sacrifices that lead these women to begin their campaigns and how these campaigns represented a larger movement happening through their country.
The many crippling issues plaguing America are widely addressed in Knock Down the House, from income inequality, health insurance, to police brutality. With each candidate having deep personal connections to a certain matter, it may work as the genesis of their journey but their passion for public service spreads far beyond. It should be noted all of the candidates presented in the documentaries mounted primary challenges against incumbent democratic congressman and senators, but that does not mean Knock Down the House is liberally biased. Lears appears to honestly portray that these candidates come from humble beginnings and have honest ambitions to represent regular Americans rather than corporations.
The documentary aims to capture the sense of a movement happening across the country but puts it focus far too much on Cortez. It is not a film breaking criticism but at times it feels that Knock Down the House would rather spend most of its runtime as a portrait piece for the congresswoman. Swearengin and Cori Bush’s story stories are just as important as it shows the reality of facing the establishment. Cortez is the one who emerges victorious, Lears simultaneously portrays the fantasy and harsh realism of politics, someone must win and someone lose. Knock Down the House only covers the primary races and doesn’t include any references to await Cortez’s future. Her victory doesn’t signal a positive change against establishment in America but it does signal the possibility of one.
Where as the rest are seemingly forgotten, Lears doesn’t focus on the next steps for the failed candidates or even the plans for the organisations represented in the film. Brand new Congress and other grass root organisations are featured and allow for the film’s subjects to meet and support each other in their respective races. However it feels the documentary only scratches the surface of these new political landscape, I’m curious of there were any other successes outside of Cortez and how these organisations and individuals proceeded into the midterm elections later in the year.
Overall, Knock Down the House is more personal than political which benefits the experience of its story greatly. It doesn’t lecture you on what is right of wrong with America but provides you with clear understandings of growing opinions that are happening across the country. Watching the grassroots campaigns of these groundbreaking women can allow for a great debate on the futures of democracy but the film never loses sight of the people. Whatever the future may hold for these women, Rachel Lears is able to capture in this moment a sense of political optimism that reminds me of Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope. That politics can once again be about public service and the betterment of society rather than partisan bickering and cruelty. It won’t happen overnight but one day it will, one woman at a time.
Director: Rachel Lears
Cast: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, Paula Jean Swearengin
Release Date: May 1st 2019
Available exclusively on Netflix.
Trailer:
Written review copyright ©CoreyBullochReviews
Images and Synopsis from the Internet Movie Database
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