Election

Author

Alexander Payne

Call Number

• DVD COMEDY (CEN)

Edition

Director-approved two-DVD special edition.

Languages

English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Performers

Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Phil Reeves, Molly Hagan, Colleen Camp, Holmes Osborne.

Publication Information

[Irvington, NY] : Criterion Collection, [2017]

Physical Description

2 videodiscs (103 minutes) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 folded sheet (color illustrations ; 19 cm)

Audience

MPAA rating: R; for strong sexuality, sex-related dialogue and language, and a scene of drug use.

Summary

Civics teacher Jim McAllister is worried: obnoxious, perennial overachiever Tracy Flick looks likely to win the student body presidency--she is running unopposed. Seeking to inject some democracy into the process, he persuades nice but dim football hero Paul Metzler to stand against her. This merely makes Tracy even more determined to win, and when Paul's alienated younger sister Tammy joins the race, leads her to use extreme measures to guarantee success. Meanwhile, Mr. McAllister's life becomes increasingly complicated as he strays from the principles he teaches. Politics is rarely pretty, but the students and faculty at Carver High are about to find out just how ugly it can get.

Notes

Title from container.

Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta.

Originally released as a motion picture in 1999.

Special features: New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Alexander Payne ; audio commentary from 1999 featuring Payne ; new interview with actor Reese Witherspoon ; The passion of Martin, Payne's 1990 UCLA thesis film, with a new introduction by the director ; Trulnside: "Election," a 2016 documentary featuring on-set footage and interviews with cast and crew ; Omaha local-news report on the film's production ; trailer.