Election

Directed by Alexander Payne
Starring Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik, Phil Reeves

With the highly anticipated release of The Holdovers (2023) from American satirical icon Alexander Payne coming to cinemas, this season of Storyhouse Gems begins with Payne’s celebrated black comedy Election (1999), which follows Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) in her relentless quest for political dominion in the high school presidential campaign.

Tracy Flick is the unlikeable and relentlessly ambitious female candidate you love to hate.

The real political drama of the film is between teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) and Tracy Flick. McAllister attempts to stop Tracy in pursuit of the presidential campaign by encouraging the delightful but simple Paul (Chris Klein) to run against her.

The campaign only becomes further complicated when Paul’s anarchic sister Tammy (Jessica Campbell) joins in the race only to undermine the entire student political government.