What if you could come of age at the end of your life?
A heartwarming comedy about mortality, politics, and second chances.
A feature film by Rachel Deutsch
Inspired by a True Story
Wanda, a relentlessly optimistic Oklahoma woman battling cancer and keeping it a secret from her daughter, launches an unlikely campaign for mayor of her small town. But as her campaign spirals, she realizes the hardest door to knock on is her daughter's.
WATCH THE PROOF OF CONCEPT
It started with the short now we’re making the feature!
Wanda has spent her entire life being the person everyone can rely on. But with her husband gone, her daughter off to college, and her cancer returning, she suddenly finds herself alone.
Desperate for connection and purpose, Wanda joins a local women's activist group and unexpectedly becomes its candidate for mayor. As her campaign gains momentum, Wanda discovers the intoxicating feeling of being seen, celebrated, and needed again.
But as her illness becomes inseparable from her political identity, Wanda must confront the truth she's been hiding from the person she loves most.
Door Knocking is a heartfelt, darkly funny story about motherhood, mortality, small-town politics, and the courage it takes to let ourselves be truly seen.
SYNOPSIS
OUR STORY - WHY THIS FILM
MY MOM LIVED DOOR KNOCKING
A Note from Writer/Director Rachel Deutsch (RachelDeutsch.com)
Door Knocking is inspired by, and dedicated to, my mother, Liz Wilson, who lived with stage-four cancer for eleven years. In the final years of her life, she became president of a local women's civic organization in Edmond, Oklahoma. She spent her days organizing, volunteering, and knocking on doors to improve her community. The group gave her a new purpose, and I believe, kept her alive.
What fascinated me was watching my mother find a new life at the very moment she knew hers was ending. She was funny, optimistic, opinionated, and endlessly hopeful, even when she was scared. Near the end of her life, I had to tell her she needed to retire. She wasn't afraid of dying. She was afraid no one would need her anymore.
Door Knocking is my love letter to her, to the women who find themselves again later in life, and to anyone who has ever hidden their pain behind a smile. It's about the roles we create to survive, our desire to feel needed, and the courage it takes to let ourselves be truly seen.
To me, the best way to get through grief is through comedy.
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Wanda
A charismatic organizer who sees Wanda as the perfect candidate, and perhaps the perfect political opportunity.
Rosie
A fiercely independent young artist desperate to escape Oklahoma and build a life of her own.
Debra
A sharp-witted librarian and Wanda's closest friend, who sees through her relentless positivity.
Christy
The relentlessly optimistic mother who discovers that being needed isn't the same as being loved.
Tyler
The polished incumbent mayor whose public image conceals insecurities of his own.
MADE IN OKLAHOMA. INSPIRED BY OKLAHOMA.
Set in Edmond, Oklahoma
the hometown of writer-director Rachel Deutsch.
Filming in Rachel's childhood home
where the real-life story that inspired Door Knocking began.
Shot on location throughout Edmond and Oklahoma City
capturing the neighborhoods, landscapes, and communities that shaped the story.
Rooted in Oklahoma's local culture
from suburban life and small-town politics to its tight-knit communities.
Committed to supporting Oklahoma's film industry
by collaborating with local cast, crew, businesses, and community members.
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Strong female lead for women 50+
Local politics and grassroots activism are more relevant than ever.
Cancer stories told through humor, joy, and resilience rather than tragedy.
A timely story about reinvention, finding purpose, and connection later in life.
At a time of increasing isolation, a reminder of the importance of community and being truly seen through honesty.
WHY NOW?
2.4 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide in 2024.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide.
Breast cancer death rates in the U.S. have declined 44% since 1989, reflecting advances in screening and treatment.
CANCER RESEARCH & ADVOCACY
For professional inquiries, use the film's dedicated email: DoorKnockingFilm@gmail.com.
Thank you for supporting our film and being as delusionally positive as we are!