How did the US mid-term polls impact our directors abroad?

This election is serious business for New Yorkers
Generally. over the years, the elections have always seemed like a time for fun and change where we want to see if a Hillary can make it to the Oval Office. But in the last few years, every wrong decision made by the American public has had a spiralling effect on its people. From racial slurring to people being sent back, the American president has made statements that one can’t easily miss. Fact is whatever he did or said, didn’t go down too well with the city-bred educated people. So what I hear from my family members to general New Yorkers is — ‘This election is serious business’.
— Mainak Bhaumik, filmmaker, who spends a considerable time in the US
Many youngsters cast their votes

This is a mid-term election and hence, very different from the Presidential race. However, this year, we saw a lot of youngsters casting their votes. Almost everybody I know — my students, their family members and colleagues — voted this year. Rhode Island has been a Democratic state. The influence of Democrats is on the higher side all over the East Coast, and the area showed its support. One development that I think is important for the teaching community is the defeat of Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin. This Republican has been condescending to the teaching community and took severe steps to curb the unions. In my area, Democratic candidate Gina Raimondo won as expected.
— Ashish Avikunthak, independent filmmaker, who teaches at
University of Rhode Island
Rise of women leaders is the takeaway

It was one of those elections. It had a little bit for everybody. The Democrats could claim victory pointing to big swing in their favour, with the House turning their way. Likewise, president Trump could claim victory, pointing the Republican gains in the Senate. However, his unpresidential demeanour at the press conference and an unprecedented banning of a well-known journalist from the

White House

, perhaps, point to a very different story.
In fact, mainstream America is going through a phase of profound disquiet. The moderates of both parties are feeling unsettled. The traditional bases of the two parties are shifting. The next generation youth is upending the calculus of many pundits. Probably, the most exciting element of this mid-term election was the rise of women, presenting themselves as leaders, not victims.
Come January, some 120 odd women will be in the Congress. It is the largest ever in the history of USA. All, but one, newcomers are women. This includes the youngest ever woman to be elected to the congress — a democratic socialist no less — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. At a time, when neither mainstream Democrats nor Republicans have any solution for economic and political problems that America faces, will women rise up as the saviours?
— Bedabrata Pain, scientist and Los Angeles-based director of Chittagong

Honestly, there was a mixed reaction

Before the elections, there was a feeling that Trump’s racist and incendiary rhetoric in recent times would be reflected in the polls and there might be a Blue Wave where Democrats not only take the House but also - though a slim possibility- the Senate. All my friends are deeply anti-Trump. So, we were all hoping for the same. WhatsApp groups were active till midnight till the results were certain. Honestly, there was a mixed reaction. While we were happy that the House was won, the fact that Republicans did better in the Senate races were deeply disappointing and disturbing. But at least I’m happy that there will be a course correction in the Trumpian way of politics.
— Suman Ghosh, director, who teaches at Florida Atlantic University