Educational Media Reviews Online

Hunting in Packs gives brief insight into the lives of three female politicians dealing with the realities of life in 2020: The tension of United States politics; Brexit’s effect on the country and the safety of women; the alienation of Canadian citizens. Offering a look at some of the things that women in politics must endure is valuable, especially in a time when women's rights are being eroded.

Director Chloe Sosa-Sims is admirable for showcasing women that do not all hold the same belief system but does downplay some of the harmful rhetoric that is upheld by at least one of the featured politicians. However, this documentary does focus less on their politics and more on the pressures they face as women in a male-dominated field. As featured Labour Party politician Jess Phillips says, there are a fair number of useless men in politics, but there are very few useless women – because women are not generally given a second chance, nor are they afforded the opportunity to fail upwards.

This documentary is not groundbreaking by any means; it is clear that there is a gender divide in politics, as well as in the larger world. But this does offer the chance for three politicians to share some personal stories and to offer words of wisdom, as well as the stark realities of the world. There are no triumphant moments in the documentary where these women triumph over evil. Instead, these women must contend with disappointment, and making the best of the cards they have been dealt. The reality of the documentary is what makes it successful. Nothing is couched in platitudes. These women understand how bad things are, and they have to work within a broken system in order to effect change.

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