'Election Night' Captures Cries, Cheers, and Fistfights During the Presidential Election

Like it or not, in just a few days, President Obama will leave office and Donald Trump will take his place. Filmmaker Ryan Scafuro spent election night in a London pub that was fixated on what was happening across the pond, and his short film is an elegant look at the evolution of real-time reactions as the night wore on.

Note: There's a small dose of NSFW language and violence in the film.

I personally think filming this in a foreign country was a small stroke of genius by Scafuro. Britain is obviously a country with a deep vested interest in American politics, but at the same time, I've been so inundated by the reactions of my fellow Americans that I find a certain clarity in watching people divorced from the proceedings by one degree. And yet, we still see the same gamut of emotions: shock, elation, disdain, dejection — emotions that beget behaviors and reactions that range from cheers to throwing fists to one man's seemingly incessant hoping against hope. 

Having been the director of photography for "The Daily Show," Scafuro is well versed in capturing politically charged footage, and his nuanced sense of narration really shows here. It's a worthwhile watch regardless of which side you fell on this election. Check out his site for more of his great work.