From writer-director Chloe Sosa-Sims, Hunting in Packs is an eye-opening documentary film that closely follows three female politicians: Jess Phillips MP of the British Labour Party, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal of the United States and Canada's Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner. While these women represent different countries and cultures while representing different sides of the political spectrum, their committed passion for driving much-needed change for the communities they serve and their experiences as women in the male-dominated field reveal a common narrative that many women can relate to and be inspired by.
To begin, filmmakers sit down with the politicians allowing them to speak on their own experiences as women in politics. This is powerful in and of itself, but even more powerful is the vlog-style footage that allows viewers to not only see these women in action but see the obstacles they face play out in real time. Beyond dealing with the complexities and vigorous workload of running for re-election, interacting with the communities they represent, and working to pass and promote legislation, these women face the realities of a largely outdated system riddled with double standards, misogyny, and racism. While these three women share similarities in their experiences, Sosa-Sims successfully combats the stereotypical portrayal of “the outspoken and opinionated woman in politics” by showcasing these three vastly different and complex characters who just so happen to belong to the same gender.
This documentary provides a wonderful example of well-crafted, organized, and effective storytelling that any aspiring filmmaker could learn from. Hunting in Packs is a prime example of the “filmmaker’s golden rule”: show, don’t tell. By simply showing these women as they go about their jobs as politicians, viewers are able to learn so much more about the intricacies and nuances of political life than one could ever express in words. It is one thing to hear these women recount their experiences and how they are treated in comparison to their male counterparts, it is another thing to see it firsthand. In sum, this film provides audiences with a variety of learning opportunities and would be a great asset to a variety of academic curriculums.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
This film would be a great fit for subjects pertaining to political science, sociology, and women and gender studies. As previously mentioned, this film would also be a great addition to curriculums dealing with filmmaking and storytelling. Specifically, this film would be great for classes focused on the production of documentary-style pieces and films.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
This film would easily fit in collections pertaining to women’s history, and political leaders, and show the “behind-the-scenes” of very public careers that most people are not very familiar with beyond what is seen in the news or in media.
Would this film be suitable for a public screening?
I think this film could be suitable for a public screening under the right circumstances. Parameters would have to be set regarding the ages allowed to attend the public screening. I also feel that this film would have the most impact if it is shown to a relatively smaller group that can participate in meaningful discussions upon the film’s conclusion. With that being said, larger groups could still benefit from seeing the film especially if it is an event focussed on empowering women or promoting gender equality.