As the media bombards Americans with its coverage of the upcoming election, the focus is turned entirely on the current nominees. Now for a blast from the past: Only eight years ago America elected who it thought would be capable of leading the nation. What many people don't realize is that before stepping foot in the White House, George W. Bush changed the little town of Crawford, Texas forever.

"Crawford," a recently released documentary directed by David Modigliani, spotlights the namesake Texas town and the events following Bush's arrival. With 705 residents in 2004, Crawford was hardly a landmark destination. The community is depicted as a classic small town where friendly faces gather around a hot cup of joe in the local diner. Everyone attends the high school football games to cheer on the Pirates and catches up at church the next day.

"Crawford" is the little independent film that could. After making its world debut at Austin's South By Southwest Film Festival, "Crawford" affected viewers instantly. It recently received the Brooklyn Film Festival's Audience Award for Best Documentary. On Oct. 7, the film made its Internet debut on sites like Hulu and the Internet Movie Database.

The film portrays the residents of Crawford cherishing their strong sense of community before W. rolled into town. Soon after announcing his candidacy for president, the Bushes made Crawford their home, moving into a sprawling estate. It didn't take long for a media circus to set up its white tent in Crawford, manufacturing the heartfelt small town image that Bush was going for. Within a few years, the town was taken from anonymous to infamous without the say of its inhabitants.

Not long after the war in Iraq began, a young soldier lost his life. His mother, Cindy Sheehan, marched to Crawford with a band of supporters to face Bush head on and get answers. "Crawford" documents Sheehan's anger and despair toward the man who ignored her desperate attempts for closure. Sheehan and her followers set up a peace camp in Crawford that sparked heated debate among its traditionally conservative citizens.

"The movie reveals a surprising dissention in this red state that's rarely shown in the media. An elementary school teacher is shown struggling with adhering to the town's strict values while letting her students find their own voice. Poignant profiles like this make "Crawford" a cut above the average documentary.

From the domino table surrounded by good-humored senior citizens to the sidelines of a high school football game, "Crawford" presents its subjects candidly. The film's vivid characters range from inspiring to tragic along the journey.

It is predictable that a documentary surrounding one of the nation's most controversial presidents would be negative and partisan. "Crawford" escapes the pigeonhole of Michael Moore-esque films. It simply offers an honest portrayal of the effect that our soon-to-be former president had on a small Texas community.

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