Capturing the Flag 2018
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Anne de Mare, Laverne Berry, and Elizabeth Hemmerdinger
Directed by Anne de Mare
DVD, 76 mins
High School - General Adult
Democracy; Law; Voting
Date Entered: 10/30/2019
Reviewed by Douglas Reed, Department of Political Science, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, ARThe imperfection of our most trusted democratic institutions often moves citizens to fight for and cherish them more. Our electoral system is a prime example.
Capturing the Flag sheds new light on voter suppression. Often dismissed as a dark chapter in America’s history, disenfranchisement has come to the forefront since the 2016 presidential campaign. The film chronicles the efforts of four activists as they attempt to protect the voting rights of citizens in Cumberland County, North Carolina, one of several places where electoral practices have been questioned. On Election Day in 2016, they disperse and camp outside polling places, making themselves available to voters by answering their questions and assisting them with voting issues. Recent state legislative decisions removed a significant number of Cumberland County residents from voter rolls. Shortly thereafter, state courts ruled that they could cast only provisional ballots. This created confusion among poll workers and resulted in different responses to voter concerns.
Informative and timely, the film explains the mechanics of an American election and underscores the need for more consistency and administrative accountability across states. It does not, however, address some of the practical reasons for varying voter registration time frames, early voting offerings, and number of polling places.
Recommended for academic and public libraries, Capturing the Flag illustrates that citizens must be informed, engaged, and persistent if they want to have a voice in our government.