As the United States struggles through the turbulent 2020 election year, filmmakers Claudia Buckenmaier and Marion Schmickler took to the road to capture the mood of the nation. Traveling through the swing states of Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan, they spoke to Americans from all walks of life about how the crises of the year are affecting them. The result is a powerful and moving documentary that shines a light on the challenges facing the country and the hopes and fears of its people.
Through interviews with doctors, workers, activists, and voters, Buckenmaier and Schmickler reveal the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on people’s lives and livelihoods. They show how low-income workers and communities of color have been hit hardest by the crisis and how systemic racism and inequality have only been laid more bare by it. Against this backdrop, the filmmakers explore how the debate on race has taken center stage in the election campaign and the growing sense of urgency around addressing the nation’s deep-seated problems. A documentary at once intimate and sweeping, it offers an unflinching look at a decisive moment in American history.
