Rhode Island International Film Festival 2009

In 2006, Democrats face a moment of truth. Republicans control all three branches of government and possess more concentrated power than in nearly a century. The daily reality of war, fear, and economic unrest is taking its toll on the American psyche. Beneath the clouds of this atmosphere, and facing the prospect of becoming a permanent minority party, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi makes a controversial choice. To spearhead the party's effort to take back Congress, she appoints Rahm Emanuel -- a colorful, iconoclastic congressman famous for sending a dead fish to a political enemy.Emanuel recruits political novices who happen to be fighters - a disabled Iraq war veteran, an NFL quarterback, a small-town sheriff - to take on entrenched incumbents in seats previously thought unwinnable. Emanuel assumes an activist role in training and organizing these candidates to be professional "start-up organizations," as he deems them. They must be on-message, media-savvy and - perhaps most important -- relentless when it comes to fundraising. Each will sing parts from the same chorus as established by the national party. Emanuel makes the bold statement that ideology is irrelevant - winning is what matters. In fact, many of these citizen candidates take anti-choice and anti-gun control stances traditionally associated with Republicans.It is the most intense, unusual strategy ever of its kind, the type of "what's there to lose" effort that often is born from desperation. If it works, it will be groundbreaking; if it doesn't, the Democrats will reach a new low in power and Emanuel will join the growing list of Democrats who have "stolen defeat from the jaws of victory." Republicans prepare to play defense.As the race unfolds, HOUSEQUAKE gets inside seven key contests across the country and follows national players on both sides of the aisle. It captures the emotional drama, high stakes, intense competition, and historical implications of the race with a rare view of the American political process.HOUSEQUAKE goes behind the scenes with candidates and top political players to dramatize the reality behind campaigns and party strategy seldom offered by the media. It shows how campaigns are plotted and the intense effort that goes into a game-changing election. It offers rare access to the biggest personalities in U.S. politics and intimate verite footage of candidates' adventures and tribulations as they dive into politics, many for the first time.As the campaign season swells toward the finish line, each one of our races becomes an unpredictable toss-up. On election night we're at 15 separate locations with the candidates and in Washington with party leaders. The results of our races mirror national trends with cliffhanger wins, poignant losses, and some surprises. In the end, Democrats gain an astonishing 31 seats. Dozens of seasoned politicians are defeated by political newcomers swept in by a national tide, forcing a reconsideration of the maxim "all politics is local" by politicians and pundits alike. The election changes the dynamics of power in Washington. Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female Speaker of the House. Rahm Emanuel and his allies became instrumental in Barack Obama's presidential campaign, and Obama's first appointment to his administration is Emanuel as Chief of Staff. HOUSEQUAKE is the only film to document an extraordinary time in U.S. political history, the election that ended the Republican revolution. The film brings to life the strategy behind the Democrats' dramatic rise to power and the counter-strategy by Republicans. The men and women featured in HouseQuake are now running the country (or plotting to run it anew). The outcome of this election invites intriguing questions that stir the passions of party members. The Democrats made room for candidates, now congressmen, with right-of-center views, especially on social issues. Is this the beginning of a post-partisan era? Can a party holding such a wide range of views discipline itself and prevent in-fighting and self-destruction? Will the Republicans follow suit with a "big tent" strategy of their own?The Democrats' takeover of Congress was more than just a "good year." This historic campaign for change paved the way for Barack Obama's presidential victory and transformed the way political races are run in America. HOUSEQUAKE shows how.