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Mayor Pete (film)

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Mayor Pete
Poster for "Mayor Pete" featuring Pete Buttigieg and Chasten Buttigieg waving at a crowd.
Promotional release poster
Directed byJesse Moss
Written by
  • Jeff Gilbert
  • Amanda McBaine
  • Jesse Moss
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
  • Jesse Moss
  • Thorsten Thielow
Edited byJeff Gilbert
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon Studios
Release dates
  • October 14, 2021 (2021-10-14) (CIFF)
  • November 12, 2021 (2021-11-12)
Running time
96 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Mayor Pete is a 2021 American documentary film directed and produced by Jesse Moss. It follows Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, as he runs for President of the United States. It had its world premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival on October 14, 2021. It was released on November 12, 2021, on Amazon Prime Video.

Synopsis

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The Studebaker factory shut down in the early 1960s in South Bend. Since then the city had been in decline until Buttigieg becomes its mayor.

The film follows Pete Buttigieg as he runs for the President of the United States, campaigning to become the country's first gay president.[2] The film begins one year before the 2020 Iowa caucuses, which Buttigieg won, marking the peak of his presidential campaign.[3]

In April 2019, Buttigieg holds a press conference with Al Sharpton at the Sylvia's Restaurant of Harlem.[4] Sharpton says, "We have to deal with homophobia in all communities, including the black community, including the faith community."

In July 2019, Rachel Maddow asked Buttigieg, "The police force in South Bend is now 6% black in a city that is 26% black,” Maddow noted. “Why has that not improved over your two terms as mayor?”[5]

Buttigieg and his husband discuss LGBT parenting. He also meets with liberal Jewish and Christian leaders that he terms "religious left". They discuss using "faith...as a weapon."

Buttigieg became the first openly gay candidate to take part in a U.S. presidential debate and win a primary; he wins the 2020 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses. He is, nonetheless, forced to exit the race after Joe Biden's landslide victory at the 2020 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary.

In 2021, Buttigieg becomes the first confirmed gay cabinet member in U.S. history, when he became Secretary of Transportation. It also gives a glimpse into the realities of life on the campaign trail.[6] In the film, Buttigieg also reflects on his coming out story, and it offers an intimate look into his marriage.[2][7]

Cast

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Production

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In July 2019, it was announced Pete Buttigieg would appear in a documentary film, with principal photography underway, with Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan set to produce under their Story Syndicate banner.[8] In November 2020, it was announced Jesse Moss had directed the film.[9]

Release

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In February 2021, Amazon Studios acquired distribution rights to the film.[10] It had its world premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival on October 14, 2021.[11][12] It also screened as the opening night film at NewFest on October 15, 2021,[13] and at the Heartland International Film Festival on October 17, 2021.[2] It was released on Prime Video on November 12, 2021.[14]

Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 71% based on 49 reviews, with the critics consensus, "Mayor Pete may not pull back the curtain on its subject's deepest inner self, but it remains a compelling portrait of a candidate on the campaign trail."[15] David Rooney, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, said that "[the] sense of a political future in large part yet to be written places a slight limitation on Buttigieg as a documentary subject, as does his generally subdued manner", adding that "it perhaps would have been useful to include a taste of his dynamic post-campaign appearances on Fox News, eviscerating obtuse GOP mouthpieces without ever raising his voice or losing his cool", and concluded that "it does have the benefit of showing a man who seems destined to remain a force in American politics, growing into the role in real time."[16] Elizabeth Weitzman of TheWrap called the film "a doggedly traditional behind-the-scenes glimpse at a solemnly earnest political candidate," adding that it is "an enjoyable ride with intermittently compelling moments."[17] David Ehrlich of IndieWire wrote that the film "is at its most absorbing during the rare moments when it hones in on what Buttigieg's accomplishment required of him, and what it might possibly mean for others like him."[18]

At the 2021 Critics' Choice Documentary Awards, the film was nominated for Best Political Documentary, and Buttigieg was nominated for Most Compelling Living Subject of a Documentary.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Mayor Pete". Newfest. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Complex, Valerie (18 October 2021). "'Mayor Pete' Trailer: Pete Buttigieg Reflects On Being Openly Gay On The Campaign Trail". Deadline. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Juzwiak, Rich (1 November 2021). "Mayor Pete Documentary: If You Squint, You Can See A Human". Jezebel. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  4. ^ Buttigieg, Sharpton talk homophobia and agenda for black community at NYC lunch
  5. ^ A Police Shooting Gives the Lie to Buttigieg’s Campaign Narrative
  6. ^ Padgett, Donald (18 October 2021). "The Trailer for Pete Buttigieg's New Documentary Is Finally Here". Out. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b Parrott, Jeff (15 October 2021). "Pete Buttigieg as 'Tin Man,' a push to be 'real' and other revelations from 'Mayor Pete' film". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  8. ^ McCammond, Alexi (July 2, 2019). "Mayor Pete Buttigieg is filming a campaign documentary". Axios. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  9. ^ Various (November 24, 2020). "Sundance Wish List: 50 Films We Hope Will Premiere at the Festival in 2021". IndieWire. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  10. ^ Vlessing, Etan (February 22, 2021). "Pete Buttigieg Doc 'Mayor Pete' Lands at Amazon Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "Mayor Pete". Chicago International Film Festival. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Phillips, Michael (September 21, 2021). "Dune, French Dispatch, world premieres about Mayor Pete and Harold Washington add to the Chicago Film Fest lineup". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  13. ^ Malkin, Marc (September 15, 2021). "Pete Buttigieg Documentary 'Mayor Pete' to Open LGBTQ+ Film Festival NewFest (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Amazon Studios Mayor Pete releases globally on November 12th, 2021". Music City Drive In. September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Mayor Pete". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Rooney, David (14 October 2021). "'Mayor Pete': Film Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  17. ^ Weitzman, Elizabeth (14 October 2021). "'Mayor Pete' Film Review: Decent Documentary, or Cleverly Crafted Campaign Ad?". TheWrap. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  18. ^ Ehrlich, David (15 October 2021). "'Mayor Pete' Review: Vérité Doc Offers a Breezy Look Inside Pete Buttigieg's Historic 2020 Campaign". IndieWire. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  19. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (18 October 2021). "'Ascension' and 'Summer of Soul' Lead Critics Choice Documentary Nominations". IndieWire. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
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