Knock Down the House is about more than AOC. It's about hope in American politics.
Knock Down the House is about more than AOC. It's about hope in American politics.
The new Netflix documentary is worth a watch, no matter your political persuasion.
By Alissa Wilkinson
May 1, 2019, 10:00am EDT
Knock Down the House
The premise: In the run-up to the 2018 midterms, documentarian Rachel Lears followed four progressive women who challenged incumbent Democrats for their Congressional seats. They weren’t all successful — but the film is uplifting and hopeful for anyone who wants their political candidates to truly represent the communities they come from.
What it’s about: Knock Down the House is the rare documentary about today’s American political landscape that might make you shed happy tears. It’s about four progressive Democratic candidates, all women, ran primary campaigns against establishment Democrats in the midterm elections: Amy Vilela in Nevada, Cori Bush in Missouri, Paula Jean Swearengin in West Virginia, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York.
Only Ocasio-Cortez was ultimately successful in her bid, and Knock Down the House feels, in the end, as if it’s mostly her story. (The fact that she is incredibly charismatic doesn’t hurt; a scene in which she deconstructs the graphic design of her opponent’s campaign materials is unexpectedly unforgettable.)
https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/5/1/18522772/knock-down-house-netflix-streaming-review-aoc