Welcome to another Feminist Friday column, that part of our week where we share 3 videos we love right now, usually centered around an intersectional feminist theme. This week we’re looking ahead to the November presidential election, by watching 3 documentary trailers that showcase what is at stake, and who is on the frontlines of protecting our rights!
First up is a documentary called ‘The Fight’, focusing on 4 key issues and cases that have been fought by the ACLU against the Trump administration over the past 4 years, including abortion rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights and voting rights. And side note: since Trump came into office, the ACLU have filed 173 cases against him. This film focuses on 4 of the most talked about ones. The film was produced by actress/director Kerry Washington.
Available for viewing at theaters and on-demand July 31, here is the film description: “The Fight is an inspiring, emotional insider look at how these important battles are fought and the legal gladiators on the front lines fighting them. Directors Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, and Eli Despres capture the rollercoaster ride of the thrill and defeat in these deeply human battles. When a mother is separated from her child, a soldier is threatened to lose his career, a young woman’s right to choose is imperiled at the pleasure of a government official, and the ability to exercise our basic right to vote is threatened, the consequences can be devastating to us and to future generations. The Fight celebrates the unsung heroes who fiercely work to protect our freedoms.” Watch the trailer below:
The second video is the trailer to a film called ‘The Pushback’, by filmmaker Kevin Ford. 2018 saw one of the most contentious mid-term elections we have seen in a long time in the United States, and one state in particular is seeing drastic political and cultural changes that are worth keeping an eye on. While Texas has traditionally been seen as a bastion of conservatism, as this film shows, it is becoming more diverse, and more progressive with each election cycle. Beto O’Rourke’s race to unseat US Senator Ted Cruz may have been the most notable race in 2018, but there were many other candidates who won, as well as activists doing important work for immigrant rights and more across Texas.
“The first of two Latinas to represent Texas in Congress, Veronica Escobar, and the only African-American woman to run for city council in Austin in 2018, Natasha Harper-Madison, lead a diverse group of progressive voices across Texas as they fight decades of institutional racism and policies of discrimination along the border. The battle over immigrant rights, land seizures to build the border wall, and the troubled racial history of the state form the backdrop to a film that explores how a place once known for its reactionary politics is becoming more liberal, more diverse — and more at risk for violent conflict,” says the film’s description.
This film is an important one to watch to get a more detailed look into how voting on the state level can sometimes be even more consequential than the presidential election long-term.
The final trailer is for a two-part documentary recently shown on PBS’ POV series. ‘And She Could Be Next’ is the film you need to watch to see how women, especially women of color, are completely changing the landscape of national, state and even local politics. While the majority of office-holders across America are still white men, as you will see in this two-part film that was executive produced by the one and only Ava DuVernay, women of color are the future of politics in the United States.
“Filmed throughout 2018 and into 2019, by a team of women filmmakers of color, the two-night special features a dynamic slate of history-makers including: Stacey Abrams (GA), Rashida Tlaib (MI), Lucy McBath (GA), Veronica Escobar (TX), Maria Elena Durazo (CA), and Bushra Amiwala (IL). We also follow the incredible “hidden figures” of the movement-women of color organizers without whose work, nothing would be possible. In our story, absolutely nobody is waiting to be saved,” says the description.
The production team is made up of majority women of color (a rarity in Hollywood!): director/producers Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia, Producer Jyoti Sarda, field director Geeta Ghandbhir, field director Yoruba Richen, composer Gingger Shankar, and editor Juli Vizza to name just a few. Watch the trailer below as we have no doubt it will inspire and excite you to have hope for the future of politics in this country:
