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It’s easy to blame a broken political system for the conflicts and contention that our nation is currently facing. But when all of the party lines are stripped away and a roomful of teenagers is tasked with creating a political system in the documentary Boys State, the results aren’t much more peaceful.
Boys State takes a look inside an annual conference established by the American Legion in 1935. Each year, in 49 states, teenage boys (and, in a separate conference, teenage girls) gather together for a week to create their own government, complete with two parties, a legislative branch, a court system, and a governor. The film follows the stories of some of the 1,100 boys who meet for Boys State in Austin, Texas. Tasked with forming political parties and electing a governor, they strive for political domination—whatever that means.
Of course, the purpose of Boys State is to teach the boys more about how the political process works. Ideally, they’ll learn from people who have different views and different perspectives. During the week, they’re expected to set party policies, elect officials, and campaign for office in a reasonably mature fashion. After all, these are gifted students who have studied the political system and have gone through a process of applications and interviews to be allowed to take part. But while some do take the process seriously, others turn it into a mix of political process, high school backstabbing, and testosterone-fueled football practice. The boys propose juvenile legislation. They set up an Instagram account to anonymously attack the people they don’t like. They yell and grunt and try to assert their dominance over one another in sessions, making loud proclamations that don’t make a whole lot of sense—and they march and chant and huddle and pound their chests outside of their sessions.
Come to think of it, this is starting to sound a whole lot like the actual political process.
This captivating documentary follows the stories of some equally fascinating characters—from charismatic schmoozer Robert to outspoken outsider René to quietly progressive Steven. As the week plays out, their personalities become stronger—and, through their political strategies, their transformations, and their observations, the film teaches viewers about politics and today’s youth.
Granted, if you’re sick of the political arguments currently taking place both online and off, Boys State might be too exhausting to watch right now. But some of these kids might also leave you with a little bit of hope for the nation’s future.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
