Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Crashes Sundance, Receives Lengthy Standing Ovation

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Crashes Sundance, Receives Lengthy Standing Ovation


The Bronx-born congresswoman is one of the subjects of ‘Knock Down the House,’ a thrilling new documentary that premiered at Sundance, where she made a special appearance.


https://www.thedailybeast.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-crashes-sundance-receives-lengthy-standing-ovation



PARK CITY, Utah—The two most hotly anticipated documentary films at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival were undoubtedly Leaving Neverland, a four-hour exposé on pop star Michael Jackson’s alleged sexual abuse of children, and Knock Down the House, chronicling the congressional campaigns of four upstart women taking on the Democratic establishment—and centered on New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who pulled off perhaps the biggest primary upset in congressional history.

But fest attendees were left crestfallen when the news broke that, due to the lingering effects of President Trump’s government shutdown, Ocasio-Cortez would not be attending her film’s premiere. So, the packed house at the MARC Theater was pleasantly surprised when, following the debut screening of Rachel Lears’ Knock Down the House, Ocasio-Cortez appeared on the screen via Skype—and was, naturally, met with a lengthy standing ovation (as was the film).


A beaming Ocasio-Cortez told the audience that it was her first time seeing the finished film. “I’m still like, kind of recovering from the tears myself, but I’m just so glad that this moment, for all four of us, was captured and documented—not just for the personal meaning of it, but for really everyday people to see that, yes, this is incredibly challenging, yes, the odds are long, but also yes, that it’s worth it, and each and every single person who submits themselves to run for office is doing a great service to this country, including Amy, Paula and Cori,” she said.

The women Ocasio-Cortez referred to are Amy Vilela, who ran for Congress in Nevada’s 4th District; Paula Jean Swearengin, who took on incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin; and Cori Bush, who battled for a House seat in Missouri’s 1st District. All four candidates were selected by Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress, a pair of political action committees backing lefty Dems who represent—and will fight for the needs of—working-class people. Lears’ thrilling film captures the emotional toll that the campaigns take on all four determined women, each of whom has a very personal reason for running for public office.


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