''How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories'' is a 12-part documentary film series that examines the American political system through the lens of

immigration reform Immigration reform is change to the current immigration policy of a country. In its strict definition, ''reform'' means "to change into an improved form or condition, by amending or removing faults or abuses". In the political sense, "immigration ...

during 2001–2007. The films were directed and produced by award-winning filmmaking team

Shari Robertson Shari Robertson is an American film director and Film producer, producer. Her filmmaking credits include ''How Democracy Works Now, Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now'', ''Well-Founded Fear'', ''These Girls Are Missing'', ''Inside the Khmer ...

and

Michael Camerini Michael Camerini is a British-born American film director, producer and cinematographer. His filmmaking credits include ''FRONTLINE: Immigration BattleNiger:Tales of Resilience'' '' Twelve Stories: How Democracy Works Now'', ''Well-Founded Fear' ...

. ''How Democracy Works Now'' premiered on

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...

with the broadcast debut of ''The Senators' Bargain'' on March 24, 2010. A directors' cut of ''The Senators' Bargain'' was featured in the 2010 Human Rights Watch Film Festival at Lincoln Center, with the theatrical title ''Last Best Chance''. The second story in the 12-part series, ''Mountains and Clouds'', opened the festival in the same year. The films toured the United States as part of the Human Rights Watch traveling film festival, and have been exhibited in special events at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

, the Five College Consortium,

Georgia College Georgia College & State University (Georgia College or GC) is a public liberal arts university in Milledgeville, Georgia. The university enrolls approximately 7,000 students and is a member of the University System of Georgia and the Council ...

and State University, CUNY and other universities. Since its debut the series has become an important resource for advocates, policy-makers and educators, while ''

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...

'' described it as "without question...the best documentary film series on government ever produced."

Release schedule

Reception

''How Democracy Works Now'' films have received a positive response. It also received positive reviews from ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', ''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...

'',

Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency was estab ...

, Congress.org, New American Media and ''

Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...

''. Publications have cited the films as important resources for advocates and policy makers. ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' said the films had the potential to "help change hearts and minds".

References

External links

* * * * * * * * {{Immigration to the United States Documentary films about American politics Documentary films about immigration to the United States

Release schedule

Reception

See also

References

External links