Today was the AP Gov exam, so I had many students out of class for the test. On such days, I often do something in class that I hardly ever do–show a film in it’s entirety. Today I screened the same documentary that I showed last year. Not only is it relevant to what we are learning about in class (elections and campaigning), but it features a politician most of my students have heard of…Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

If one is remotely interested in politics in general, or left-leaning politics in particular, this film is worth your time. In a nutshell, the film follows four women running in the 2018 congressional primaries. AOC gets the most screen time because she is the lone winner.

What struck me about the film was learning about the struggles that lead these four women to try and win a seat in the national legislature. Amy Viela’s story is the most heart wrenching. Her 22 year old daughter was denied tests after being admitted to the hospital because she didn’t have insurance. She died soon thereafter of a pulmonary embolism. So sad, and so very fucking American. AOC’s father, whom she was very close to, died while she was in college.

I was also struck by AOC’s confidence and tenacity. Watch the film, see if you see it to. I know she has become the boogyman of the right, and it is clear to see why–she’s smart, articulate, passionate, and has learned from the trevails she’s faced how to approach daunting challenges. Knowing more about her having seen the film, I am definitely rooting for her. She’e absolutely pissing off the right people.