Watch Represent

Represent (2020) is a documentary directed by Hillary Bachelder that gives an inside view of the political campaigns of three women who at first glance may have not seemed to belong in politics. The film follows the campaigning processes of Bryn Bird, Julie Cho, and Myya Jones. Bryn Bird is a farmer from Wisconsin who runs for State Assembly. She is an advocate for rural communities and wants to represent the people of her rural district, focusing on environmentalism and education. We get to witness her on the campaign trail, listening to the worries and concerns of the constituents, and strategizing with her team to gain more support.

Julie Cho is a young Asian American woman from the Bay Area of California, who runs for San Francisco’s Board of Education. Julie’s identity and experience as an Asian American teacher become the foundation of the culture she wishes to create within the community. The documentary captures her journey as she navigates the political landscape of local politics while fighting for representation and awareness of mental health among young students.

Myya Jones is a young Black woman from Michigan who runs for City Council in Detroit. Her dream is to give voice to her community while also inspiring young people who have lost hope in politics. She is a fighter for social justice and her campaign was driven by three main objectives: family, community, and education. We see her fighting against odds to get her name on the ballot, and then once she succeeded, the difficulties she faced to secure the necessary funding to run a solid campaign.

The three women come from diverse backgrounds and social locations, making this documentary an inspiring portrait of the various challenges they face as they fight for their respective communities. What is interesting about the film is the accurate portrayal of the ups and downs of running a political campaign, from the beginning to the end.

The documentary follows not only the three inspiring women but also their campaign teams, which play an equally crucial role in their journey. The audience witnesses events such as the heated debates between rival candidates, the fundraising events, and the stress that comes with not having enough funding.

The lack of funding is a common thread that runs throughout the movie. We get to see firsthand how much money is needed to run an effective campaign, yet how unreachable it may seem when you are not part of the political machine. This depiction of political fundraising is particularly poignant as it shows the disadvantage that first-time candidates face, even if they have the purest intention to serve their communities.

Represent perhaps has a weakness where all three campaigns end in cliffhangers, and the viewer doesn’t get to see the final results. However, this failure to have closure is more due to the unpredictability of politics than to any creative choices of the filmmaker.

The film is a testament to the fact that diverse representation is vital to any democracy. It shows how having people in power who genuinely represent us will elevate our voices and enable everyone to be heard equally. At its core, the movie tries to convey the importance of the mantra, “if you don’t see yourself reflected in politics, then it’s time to become the change you want to see in the world.”

Overall, Represent is an inspiring and informative story that gives insight into what it takes to run a political campaign when you are a woman entering politics for the first time. Alongside depicting the struggles of these women in these campaigns, the documentary shines a light on the need for greater representation in the political landscape from diverse populations. It is definitely worth watching for anyone interested in politics or viewed to get inspired to run for office.

Represent is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 71.