Election Day is a film that flips the American voting experience upside down and looks at the underbelly of the world’s most famous democracy. Following on the heels of the controversial 2000 Florida recount, voters descended on the polls in 2004 in record numbers. Whether or not the recent election improved upon the chaos of 2000 remains a source of controversy. Election Day is a dramatic, character-driven verite documentary that follows fourteen characters across the United States on November 2, 2004, as they struggle to play their part in democracy. The film shows the voting process from the perspective of the American citizens who make it happen—poll watchers, volunteers, civil servants, and the voters themselves. Election Day is a great compliment or jumping-off point for in-school discussion of the upcoming presidential race.

A Q&A will follow the screening. Students who attend Election Day will also participate in a mock election.

Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna) tells the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. Along the way, mother and son face challenges and obstacles but never lose hope that they will one day be together again. Riggen’s film is not only a heartwarming family story; she also offers subtle commentary on the much-debated issue of illegal immigration.

Companion Film: The Sixth Section

During the cold winters of upstate New York, a group of immigrants work together to give back to their hometown of Boqueron, Mexico. The film portrays real stories being lived by today’s immigrants—stories that don’t fit into the confines of today’s immigration debate. 
Directed and Produced by Alex Rivera, in association with P.O.V./American Documentary

Learn more about The Sixth Section

Revolution ’67 is an illuminating account of events too often relegated to footnotes in U.S. history — the black urban rebellions of the 1960s. Focusing on the six-day Newark, New Jersey, outbreak in mid-July 1967, the film reveals how the disturbance began as spontaneous revolts against poverty and police brutality and ended as fateful milestones in America’s struggles over race and economic justice.

Companion Film: The Children of Birmingham

Baltimore youth tell the story of their 1960s counterparts who fought for civil rights. This animated piece celebrates the powerful role young people had in changing the laws of segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. 
Directed by Rebecca Yenawine, Produced by Kids on the Hill.

Learn more about The Children of Birmingham