Lots of filmmakers, but especially documentarians, split their time between commercial gigs that keep the lights on and more personal works. Mary Lambert, whose ladies-of-the-U.S. Senate doc 14 Women had its world premiere last night at SILVERDOCS, is no different. Her resume includes the 1989 Stephen King adaptation Pet Sematary, some TV and direct-to-video stuff with awesome titles like My Stepson, My Lover and and Halloween II: Kalabar’s Revenge, plus music videos for the likes of Janet Jackson, Sting, and Madonna. (That stigmata-riffic, interracial-sexy “Like a Prayer” video that had the Falwellites so upset back in 1989? That was Lambert’s. She’s got some game.)

As for the personal stuff? While, it’s fair to assume that few subjects are dearer to Lambert than the under-representation of women in the legislative branch — her sister is Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). The election of Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) last fall put an unprecedented 16 women in the Senate, but 14 Women is focused on the 109th Congress, hence its name. Every aspect of Lambert’s film, from Annette Benning’s narration to Bill (The Matrix) Pope’s cinematography, bespeaks an embarrassment of riches: Besides what appears to have been plenty of bankroll, Lambert had as close to unfettered access to these politicians as anyone wielding a camera is likely to get, including significant face-time with every one of the 109th’s female senators. Sure enough, the result is a polished, absorbing film that ought to be shown in high-school civics classes everywhere.