The importance and timeliness of Ava DuVernay’s follow-up to her Oscar-nominated 2016 documentary, 13th, cannot be overstated. With a similarly accessible and impactful approach to a dense, complex subject, DuVernay makes abundantly clear the severity of the threat currently facing American democracy through the many recent strategic attacks on the 14th Amendment, not only by the current administration but by a hateful movement that dates back to the Civil War. 14th is a vital and infuriating piece of filmmaking that seeks to educate its audience into action, particularly as this year’s midterm elections approach. Unfortunately, the film’s constant use of AI to animate archival photographs is a constant source of distraction, undermining what was otherwise shaping up to be every bit as powerful and effective as 13th was a decade ago.