Press Materials

Reviews

"One of the most important documentaries you'll see all year." - The Soul of Wisconsin: “Can You Hear Us Now?” Documents the Fight for Democracy - Catherine Capellaro, The Isthmus

"A riff on the Frank Capra classic, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.... Can You Hear Us Now? shows the uphill climb that first-time candidates have in unseating well-funded incumbents in districts drawn to favor them." - 'Can You Hear Us Now?' Shows the Unfair Fight that is Wisconsin Politics - Rob Thomas, The Cap Times

"A moving, if disturbing, portrait of some of the best and worst features of contemporary American political life. Can You Hear Us Now? puts a face on the meaning of partisan gerrymandering, as a Republican minority in the state changes the rules to keep itself in power and thwart the will of the people. At the same time, the film offers inspiring local narratives of citizens mobilizing and running for office to protect their most fundamental interests and democracy itself. Everyone who cares about the future of American democracy should see it."- Alex Keyssar, Professor of History and Social Policy, Harvard University, Author, The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States

“Can You Hear Us Now? takes its audience on a rollercoaster ride of nonstop, State-based political battles and machinations. The passionate candidates are thoroughly inspiring…. The soundtrack by Caleb Stine perfectly surrounds this dynamic story.” - Can You Hear Us Now?: A Season in the Life of Wisconsin Politics - Don Schwartz, Spotlight on Documentaries

"This film is a compelling exposition that reveals the systematic suppression of voters in Wisconsin and how the featured activists fought back. The stories of these four remarkable women show the extent to which democracy itself is under siege by politicians determined to pick their voters instead of letting the voters pick their politicians. This terrific documentary illuminates the esoteric arguments about gerrymandering, voter suppression, and voting rights and the way those issues intersect with democracy itself." - Charles Anthony Smith, Professor of Political Science and Law, University of California-Irvine, Co-author, Gerrymandering in America and Gerrymandering the States

"Can You Hear Us Now? is a gripping story of how gerrymandering allows numerical minorities to maintain control of policy-making and power in America.... It weaves human stories into a narrative of democratic decline and shows how extreme gerrymandering can lead to the misrepresentation of voters." - Christian Grose, Academic Director, USC Schwarzenegger Institute, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Southern California, Author, Congress in Black and White

"You want to know what's wrong with democracy in Wisconsin? Watch this film! Perceptive and poignant and at times enraging, Can You Hear Us Now? shows you how Scott Walker, gerrymandering, and the American Legislative Exchange Council muffled the voices of We, the People, in Wisconsin. But it also shows the fighting progressive spirit that lives on in Wisconsin as We the People demand to be heard." - Matt Rothschild, Executive Director, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

"Can You Hear Us Now? is a gripping story. These are the ordinary people who take the plunge to improve their state by running for public office to restore fairness in the economy, the environment, and political system itself. A key roadblock to their success is the gerrymandered districts that allow legislators to ignore what the public wants." - Barry Burden, Professor of Political Science, Director of the Elections Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

"A bracing document, laying bare the state of our state." - UW Cinematheque - Cinematalk podcast with Director Jim Cricchi & Producer Susan Peters

Can You Hear Us Now “tells what it feels like to be disenfranchised in Wisconsin” - Erik Gunn, Wisconsin Examiner