KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE

Knock Down the House is an inspiring look at the campaigns of four progressive women to enter the United States Congress. The star of the show is, though, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

MAY 1, International Workers Day, sees the release of a new Netflix documentary Knock Down the House. Director Rachel Lears follows the journey of the U. S. left's poster girl, Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, as she campaigns to become the youngest woman to serve in Congress. But it is also about how someone like AOC, a determined and outspoken socialist, could beat the establishment-approved centrism of sitting Democratic congressman Joe Crowley, once considered to be the natural successor to Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader of the House.

But the film is not just about AOC. The film follows the primary campaigns of four progressive Democratic women: Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Amy Vilela of Nevada, Cori Bush of Missouri, and Paula Jean Swearengin of West Virginia. The documentary highlights their working class roots and their collective determination to do right by their communities. And that means having to challenge the 'business as usual' politics of a Democratic Party establishment more interested in representing the interests of its powerful corporate donors than the interests of the very people it claims to represent.

In the end though AOC is the star of Knock Down The House. Given her rise to national and international prominence it could hardly be otherwise. We are afforded a revealing look into her life beyond the political meetings and the headlines.

Knock Down the House was voted Festival Favourite at the recent Sundance Film festival.