Watch Gerrymandering

Set in the United States, Gerrymandering is a 2010 documentary film that explores the deceitful and corrupt practice of redistricting. With a runtime of approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, the film delves deep into the politics and math behind redistricting and the adverse effects it has on the United States' democracy. Directed by Jeff Reichert and produced by Dan O'Meara, the film features interviews with some renowned political figures, including former Governor of California Gray Davis, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and former Florida State Senator Dave Aronberg. The movie also showcases interviews with various activists, academics, and other politicians who have been at the forefront of campaigns against gerrymandering.

The film starts by introducing us to the concept of gerrymandering, which refers to the practice of manipulating electoral districts to gain a political advantage. The film illustrates how the practice has been used to dilute the votes of specific groups, thereby distorting the democratic process. The movie also shows how this deceitful process has been used throughout American history.

From here, Gerrymandering takes us through the roots of gerrymandering, what needs to be done to stop it, and how the political system is adversely affected by it. In doing so, the filmmakers have included interviews with various politicians from both sides of the political divide, providing us with both perspectives of the impact of redistricting.

Throughout the film, Director Reichert uses an interactive map to explain how easily redistricting is achieved: it's as easy as clicking, dragging, and selecting using the computer mouse. This visualization of how districts are redrawn to favor one political party over the other is alarming, as it highlights how gerrymandering happens and the impact it can have.

In Gerrymandering, the film crews examine how certain states tend to manipulate their electoral districts based on racial lines or a specific geography, which ultimately ensures that the majority party stays in power. The film shows us how a simple redistricting exercise can transform a swing state to a red or blue state, ultimately affecting the presidential elections' outcome.

Gerrymandering also highlights how gerrymandering not only affects politicians' elections but also affects policy making. Since the elected official's focus is not on representing the people, but rather focused on maintaining their power base, policies that benefit the larger population take a back seat to those geared towards helping the party's supporters.

The film touches on the media's role in gerrymandering and how they tend to focus on presidential elections to the exclusion of the gerrymandering effect on senators, congressmen, and state-level offices. Gerrymandering showcases how this media-directed narrative ultimately affects the overall democracy and electorates' right to fair representation.

Gerrymandering ultimately takes us beyond the problem of district boundary line manipulation, highlighting the solutions the United States can adapt to stop it permanently. The filmmakers look at how things can be made right by taking the power of redistricting out of politicians' hands and putting it in the hands of an independent commission.

Gerrymandering is a captivating watch, combining education, social awareness, and entertainment, making it an excellent educational material for students of American politics as well as everyday voters. It comprehensively showcases the impact of gerrymandering on American politics, delivering a potent message that everyone can do something to secure our democracy's future.

In conclusion, Gerrymandering is an essential film that every individual and institution must watch to understand the dangers of gerrymandering, its impact on democracy, and how it can be effectively addressed. The film shines a light on the corrupt impact of redistricting on American politics, making it a must-watch for anyone invested in bettering American democracy.

Gerrymandering is a 2010 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 49.