Knock Down The House

About Knock Down The House

Knock Down The House is a 2019 documentary film directed by Rachel Lears. It falls under the Social & Cultural Docs genre and offers an intimate and inspiring look into the political campaigns of four extraordinary women who ran for Congress in the 2018 United States elections. The film showcases their grassroots campaigns as they fight against powerful incumbents and a broken political system. Knock Down The House was released on Netflix on May 1, 2019, and received critical acclaim for its powerful storytelling and compelling subjects.

Explore

• About
• Making / Production
• Actors
• Trivia / Interesting Facts
• Awards
• Quotes
• Music, Soundtrack

About

The film follows the campaigns of four inspiring women running for office in the 2018 United States elections: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, and Paula Jean Swearengin. These women come from diverse backgrounds and face different challenges in their respective campaigns, but they all share a common desire to bring change to their communities.

Knock Down The House provides an in-depth look at their personal stories, motivations, and the grassroots movements they built to challenge the political establishment. The film captures their determination, struggles, and triumphs as they navigate the complexities of the political landscape and confront the power structures that have long dominated American politics.

Making / Production

Director Rachel Lears and her team spent over a year capturing the campaigns of these four women, offering unprecedented access to their personal lives and political strategies. The documentary highlights the day-to-day challenges of running for office, showcasing the tireless efforts and sacrifices made by the candidates and their teams.

Lears skillfully weaves together personal interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and campaign trail moments to create a compelling narrative that engages viewers with the emotional highs and lows of these campaigns. The film effectively presents the realities of grassroots organizing, fundraising, and the impact of money in politics.

Actors

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - Played Herself, a determined bartender from the Bronx who challenges the democratic incumbent in New York's 14th congressional district.
• Amy Vilela - Played Herself, a grieving mother who lost her daughter to a lack of healthcare and runs for Congress in Nevada's 4th congressional district.
• Cori Bush - Played Herself, a registered nurse and activist who fights for racial justice and runs for Congress in Missouri's 1st congressional district.
• Paula Jean Swearengin - Played Herself, a coal miner's daughter and environmental activist who runs for Senate in West Virginia.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Knock Down The House premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Festival Favorite award.
• Netflix acquired the global distribution rights for $10 million, making it one of the largest documentary deals in the history of the festival.
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's successful campaign was a breakthrough moment, leading to her becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
• The film not only showcases the candidates but also highlights the efforts of the brave women behind the scenes as campaign managers, volunteers, and supporters.

Awards

Knock Down The House received critical acclaim and won several awards, including:

• Sundance Film Festival - Festival Favorite
• Critics' Choice Documentary Awards - Best Political Documentary
• Phoenix Critics Circle - Best Documentary
• Riverrun International Film Festival - Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature

Quotes

• "We're not built to lead with our fears, we're built to lead with our instincts." - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
• "People try to convince you that the challenges you faced aren't real. But they are real." - Amy Vilela
• "Every baby, every human being, should have the right to quality healthcare." - Cori Bush
• "You make me want to fight harder." - Paula Jean Swearengin

Music, Soundtrack

The soundtrack for Knock Down The House features a blend of original compositions and licensed music that complements the film's themes and emotional beats. The score, composed by Ryan Blotnick, enhances the documentary's intimate and uplifting moments, while the selection of songs reflects the energy and spirit of the featured candidates and their campaigns.

Some notable songs in the film's soundtrack include "Rise Up" by Andra Day, "This Land Is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie, and "Can't Stop" by Jenny Tolman.