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A documentary that is almost a thriller, the movie chronicles the unsung heroes who administer elections. The horrific abuse inflicted on the election workers seen here is widespread in world elections. What we see in this Arizona, U. S. A. Election is an admirably transparent process where the top election officials are accountable to the voters and the country. One has the impression viewing this mini-documentary that the election workers are totally committed to fair elections in which every vote is counted. But it's a bit of a thankless task. The workers hear about every glitch, and every conspiracy theory, and never about their tireless work in fixing those glitches and ensuring that the votes accurately reflect the public will. What gives rise to the widespread public distrust is not dealt with here. It's just a picture of how it feels to be an election worker at this time in history.

With the prevalance of mass killings this is an important movie for its insights on how survivors cope with the lasting trauma. It's not a weepy, angry or preachy film. It depicts everyday folks, centred on an agreeable protagonist, trying to adjust, as they cannot avoid doing. The protagonist, played brilliantly by Jenna Ortega, is 16 and coming of age, with those issues layered into the tragedy - the same awkward challenge for all survivors of high-school shootings including, importantly, the parents. Especially considering the tough subject matter, this is an enjoyable story with some comic moments. The survivors will be forever scarred, but by the end of the movie we can imagine them leading normal, even happy, lives.

Savoring Paris is a delightful movie that keeps your attention by providing with two male romantic interests. For most of its runtime, the movie has us wondering which of these men lead actor Bethany Joy Lenz will end up with, and which one she should end up with. One guy is consistently kind, the other is arrogant and edgy but also, ultimately, more interesting. This is a more complex story structure than Hallmark is known for, and it's well done. Plus the scenes of Paris, all of them marvelous, include a spectacular night scene of the Eiffel Tower lit in gold. First-rate cinematography is something Hallmark is known for and delivers in this charming picture.