An Up-Close View of Political and Everyday Life: Knock Down the House Film Analysis Isabella Escalona College

Rachel Lears’ documentary film Knock Down the House creates an authentic portrait of four political candidates by offering intimate glimpses into their most vulnerable moments. The film follows the 2018 congressional campaigns of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, and Paula Jean Swearengin, four insurgent, nothing-to-lose female underdogs who courageously challenge their high-ranking political opponents. As they push forward in their campaigns, the film creates a pressing sense of urgency, portraying how each candidate is running for office as they walk, talk, and even as they drive, all in an effort to win over American hearts and votes. Knock Down the House ultimately aims not only to illustrate the complexities of running a grassroots campaign, but to show how the experiences of these women reflect those of millions of Americans and to celebrate the power of the underdog, emphasizing the ability of these women to use personal hardship and adversity as a source for motivation.

Knock Down the House is largely centered around Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Bronx-born 28-year-old who recognized the obstacles she would face as both a female and a person of color from the earliest days of her career. Lears creates a...