“The Elephant in the Room” Out Now!
What happens when political differences meet romance? In Erik Bork’s newest film, The Elephant in the Room, we watch as two people become smitten, yet conflicted, by their different views.
Reeling from the aftermath of the 2020 election, social media strategist Leah meets Vincent, a charming restaurant cook who voted the opposite way. She’s progressive. He’s… not. It’s a bumpy comedic ride as they try to navigate this potential deal-breaker. Can their undeniable chemistry and commonalities bridge their political divide?
Across two cups of coffee on a first date, Leah backpedals as she realizes she may have spoken too fast.
“Should I… not assume that you have the same view as me?” Leah asks. “I mean, I obviously know that people think differently than me,”
“Anyone you know?” Vincent responds.
“No.”
Although humorous, this exchange points to something deeper about the specific cultural moment we’re in. In 1960, 5% of Americans didn’t want a family member to marry across party lines. In 2010, 33% of Democrats and 50% of Republicans did not want a family member to marry across party lines. As of 2020, 70% of Democrats reported that they wouldn’t date a Trump voter, while 50% of Republicans reported that they wouldn’t date a Clinton voter.
These divides extend beyond dating relationships. As the Elephant in the Room website shares, in 2022 close to 60% of Americans held “very unfavorable views” of the opposite party, while 87% report that political polarization is a threat to America.
At Clapham, we believe in the power of story to bridge divides and build social capital. Which is why our sister company, MORE Productions helped produce Elephant in the Room. The film accomplishes this with lighthearted wit and human warmth. As Bork– the Emmy Award winning writer and producer of Band of Brothers– explains: “For a romantic comedy, you need the audience to like both people and want to see them get together… How do I make [someone with politics very different from my own] dimensional and believable and nuanced, and also likeable?”
In a lot of ways, the film’s answer is conversation:
“I don’t think we’re nearly as far apart as you think we are,” Vincent suggests.
“I find that hard to believe,” Leah responds.
“Maybe it’s good to have a friend on the other side of the aisle… might be healthy,” Vincent counters.
It is through conversation that, at points in the film, this couple can shake hands on common ground, despite their overall difference in beliefs. It is also through conversation that they realize “it’s possible this is all a lot more complicated than we make it.”
But that is not a reason to give up. It is possible to stay in relationship, maybe even to the point of holding hands, if we learn to listen and respect one another even when we disagree.
Now released, The Elephant in the Room is a welcome reminder that common ground can exist amidst disagreement. In a moment when it feels like polarization dominates, we encourage you to watch this film that promotes conversation and connection.
