The longer the coronavirus crisis rages on, the more obvious it is that we need new, better people in office. You know, ones who aren’t science deniers. Luckily, there is a documentary that underlines that there is hope in politics, even though things seem as grim as ever. A press release announced that Alyssa Milano has signed on to executive produce “Surge,” Hannah Rosenzweig and Wendy Sachs’ doc about the women who entered politics during the history-making 2018 midterm elections.
In fall 2018, a record number of first-time female candidates ran for and won political office. “Diverse in age, ethnicity, and background, these women faced uphill battles to raise money, beat incumbents, and flip their deep red districts to blue,” the source details. “Surge” follows three of these women, including Lauren Underwood, the youngest black woman ever to be elected to Congress, during their campaigns. A registered nurse and public health expert, Underwood is now at the forefront at the COVID-19 fight. She’s also facing a tough road to re-election this fall.
“‘Surge’ seizes on this electric time in American history, capturing the energy driving women to disrupt the status quo, transform the political paradigm, and run for office,” per the press release. “The film reflects back to women’s political history and the ‘1992 Year of the Woman’ and then looks to the future. It discusses why women may need to lose first before they win, reframing the idea of election loss not as a failure but as an important step forward to creating political parity.”
The doc also focuses on the “pipeline of female candidates” that resulted from the 2018 elections. Even though many women lost their bids for office, they succeeded in encouraging future generations of women to enter politics themselves.
“’Surge’ is a beautiful and impactful film that will inspire girls and women and all people to get activated at the grassroots, use their voices and yes, see themselves as elected leaders. And while it’s vital that we all must stay home to stay safe right now, we can’t forget that there is a critically important election in November,” Milano emphasized. “The message of this film is that it’s up to us to make real change happen and collectively we can do it. I’m thrilled to be a part of this important project.”
Katie Couric serves as an advisor to the film, and has backed it financially. Dara and Jedd Canty, Tanya Selvaratnam and Regina K. Scully are also among the EPs.
Last year Milano created and published a state-by-state guide breaking down the threats posed to safe and legal abortion. “Insatiable,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later” are among her more recent credits. You can see the Time’s Up activist next in Quibi comedy “The Now.”
Another film about women running for office in 2018, Rachel Lears’ “Knock Down the House,” was one of our favorite documentaries of 2019. It traces the campaign journeys of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, and Paula Jean Swearengin.
“Surge” is currently looking for distribution. It is set to screen in New York on June 13, and planing screenings at the Democratic National Committee Convention in July. Check out the trailer below.
