November 8, 2016. Charlottesville, Virginia. At voting precincts around the city, everyday citizens exercise their right to vote. Filmmaker Kevin Jerome Everson sets his camera in the center of these spaces, observing the civic process as it unfolds. Shot on 16mm black-and-white film, Tonsler Park immerses us in the routine operations and casual exchanges between participants. Focusing on mostly Black civil servants, we see workers at tables check voters in and share simple instructions. Constituents come and go. Sound originates from sources around the room, but the camera stays still, meditating on the people before it—even as other figures cross in front of the lens, the camera’s tight focus remains. This tirelessly observed and accumulative portrait encourages reflection as it documents in detail what would ultimately be a historic day for the United States, moving us to consider the democratic process, who it serves and who it marginalizes.  ST