Voting for Pedro: The Simple Charms and Politics of 'Napoleon Dynamite' (2004)

To usher in a new cycle on "Politics", Julian, Emilio and Madeline soft pedal their way into the theme by way of discussing Jared Hess's 2004 debut feature film 'Napoleon Dynamite', a high school movie featuring socially maladjusted yet charming teenagers, tater tots, rural Idaho, airborne food, fraudulent internet purchases, non-fraudulent internet dating, and yes, an election for class president! After a conversation about the film's gentle, family-friendly humor and off-beat style that continues to win over audiences of all ages and generations, the trio dives deep into the specifics of presidential race of Summer Wheatley vs Pedro Sanchez. Their campaigns, their platforms, the speeches, the outcome, the electorate of Preston High, other political comparisons - no stone is left unturned. Stick around for a lively Unlikely Shared Universe, and for real time contributions from Dougie about the cast's love lives and an eBay purchase that influenced one of the movie's wackiest scenes. If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow! Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats