A CAPITOL CASE

What happens when a left-wing D.C. public defender represents right-wing members of the January 6th mob? A CAPITOL CASE takes onAmerica’s epidemic of hatred and misinformation with humanity and comic relief, showing how to restore trust and civil discourse one relationship at a time.

  • Andrea Kalin
    Director
    Partners of the Heart, The Pact, Prince Among Slaves, Allah Made Me Funny, Talking through Walls, Soul of a People, Worlds of Sound, No Evidence of Disease, Red Lines, First Lady of the Revolution, Scattering CJ
  • Andrea Kalin
    Producer
    Partners of the Heart, The Pact, Prince Among Slaves, Allah Made Me Funny, Talking through Walls, Soul of a People, Worlds of Sound, No Evidence of Disease, Red Lines, First Lady of the Revolution, Scattering CJ, The Peoples Recorder
  • Ethan Oser
    Producer
    Red Lines, First Lady of the Revolution, Scattering CJ , The Peoples Recorder
  • Janice Engel
    Producer
    Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivans, Jackson Brown: Going Home, Ted Hawkins Amazing Grace, Addicted
  • Kate Woodsome
    Producer
    Bring them Home, Fight or Flight
  • Thomas Niles
    Editor
    12 O'Clock Boys, The Body Politic, Ghosts of Sugarland
  • Joseph Vitarelli
    Composer
    John Adams, Flag Day, The Last Seduction, My Architect, For Love or Country, Boycott, Equal Justice, The Beast, Under Suspicion
  • Ethan Oser
    Director of Photography
    Red Lines, First Lady of the Revolution, Scattering CJ , The Peoples Recorder
  • Andrea Kalin
    Writer
    Partners of the Heart, Prince Among Slaves, Soul of a People, The Peoples Recorder
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Politics
  • Runtime:
    35 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 12, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    192,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.90:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Andrea Kalin

Andrea Kalin is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and founder of Spark Media, a production company dedicated to programs with a social conscience. Kalin’s storytelling has earned her over 100 awards and honors, including a Primetime Emmy, two Gracies, a CHRIS Award, and Golden Globe and WGA nominations. Her work has been shown theatrically and at film festivals around the world including Hot Docs International Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, Human Rights Watch Film Festival and is distributed by global broadcasters and streaming platforms such as Smithsonian, MTV, HBO, PBS’s WORLD Channel, Amazon, Apple TV, Tubi and Deutsche Welle.

Her most recent feature, SCATTERING CJ, premiered at the Camden International Film Festival and aired on PBS in September 2022. She has produced 12 feature length documentaries and scores of advocacy shorts. Kalin's debut documentary, PARTNERS OF THE HEART, narrated by Morgan Freeman, aired on PBS's “American Experience,” won the Erik Barnouw Award for Best History Documentary, and is part of the NEH50, a list of the most culturally significant projects funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Kalin's work has received support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Annie E Casey Foundation, Fetzer Foundation, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and numerous state humanities foundations, among others.

Kalin seeks out unexpected, gripping human stories that shape who we are and shift how we see our world. Her spirited storytelling inspires audiences and sparks the imagination.

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Director Statement

Having had the privilege of calling Washington, DC my home for many years, I've personally witnessed the disheartening grip of deep polarization on our nation. The widening chasm, fueled by divisive rhetoric and growing mistrust, is truly distressing.

What sets "A Capitol Case" apart is its refreshing perspective. It not only challenges our preconceived notions but also encourages us to approach our differences with compassionate curiosity. The film invites us to delve into the motivations behind our beliefs, prompting us to reevaluate our own perspectives. It's a film for anyone who's tired of avoiding conversations due to political differences or dreading family gatherings that inevitably devolve into heated debates.

At some point, we all fall prey to "us vs. them" thinking, allowing political labels to define us while overlooking the complexity and diversity that lies within each of us. However, "A CAPITOL CASE" rejects these oversimplified categorizations and embraces the idea that Americans are more than mere red or blue. Our story introduces a vibrant mix of individuals, each bearing their own distinctive viewpoints. Rather than dwelling solely on analyzing policies and ideologies, our focus is on understanding the emotions and experiences that shape them.

In a time when disengagement may seem tempting, "A CAPITOL CASE" serves as a powerful reminder that such detachment only perpetuates the existing divide.

Through this film, I hope to bring some humanity back into the conversation.