Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a modern-day hero in the United States. In fact, she’s literally being transformed into a superhero as part of a new comic book! The New York-born Latina who’s taken Congress by storm has refused to back down from the likes of President Donald Trump, condemning for his stance on immigration, to raising money for transgender youth through Twitch livestreaming. But if you’re curious to find out where she got her start you’ll have to look to Netflix, who released a new trailer for their documentary charting the rise of her campaign and eventual win, Knock Down the House.
The documentary follows AOC, along with candidates Cori Bush, Paula Jean Swearengin and Amy Vilela as they all run for various government offices in a push to create more women working-class leaders. The trailer explains that in 2018, approximately 529 women ran for Congress, presenting each of the various women’s platforms, particularly Cori Bush’s desire to change the perception of her Missouri community in the wake of the Ferguson riots and Amy Vilela’s hope to make health care more accessible after losing her daughter. AOC stands at the forefront of the trailer, and her part of the story is already known to audiences, but the movie shows us the impact of her win. As AOC says toward the trailer’s conclusion, “for one of us to make it through, a hundred of us have to try.”
Knock Down the House made the festival rounds earlier this year, playing both at Sundance and SXSW. It’s not only a relevant portrait of grassroots political power but, through AOC’s win, Latino power. It’s also a highly emotional story about the strength of women, particularly women of color. Change is coming and these women are leading the way.
Knock Down the House is available to stream on Netflix May 1, 2019.