New documentary focuses on families facing economic hardship

The U.S. House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth has released “Grit and Grace: The Fight for the American Dream,” a half-hour documentary focusing on three families struggling in the face of economic hardship.

The film was made on a $200,000 budget by Emmy-winning director/producer Oscar Guerra and is narrated by actress Sarah Jessica Parker. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), the Committee’s chairman, hosted a premiere screening last week at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

“Congress has traditionally been awful at speaking to the American people,” said Himes in a New York Times interview. “We”™re awful because we run partisan talking points, which in my experience, very few Americans want to hear.”

Himes added the film offers “an opportunity to hear, to tell the stories of Americans and to try to collapse some of the stereotypes that exist.” The film is now available for free viewing on YouTube.