11/8/16

A thought-provoking look at the anticipation for the 2016 Presidential Election, 11/8/16 is a pretty solid documentary. While it was clearly meant to celebrate a Hilary victory, given that most of the people that are followed are Hilary supporters (a group of illegal immigrates, a former convict, a union leader, a feminist college student, a black activist, etc.), the filmmakers end up recrafting the film into something quite interesting. The interviews have a nice candid, raw feel; depicting the types of conversations that people were having on the eve of the election. It also does a good job capturing the winds of change as election results came in; with Trump supporters starting to believe in the impossible and Hilary supports being shocked. Additionally, the film refrains from making any political commentary on the election of Trump, but instead lets the people it follows voice the mixed emotions of shock, disappointment, hope, and apathy that were felt by the electorate. Rather than attempt to explain or find meaning in the election, 11/8/16 tries to capture the mood of the voters; the complacency of Hilary supporters, and the pessimism of Trump supporters.