Boys State

UK 12A Certificate
In cinemas
October 29, 2020
Buy it from
November 2, 2020
Runtime
1 Hour 49 Minutes
Language
English
From Curzon Artificial Eye
infrequent strong language, moderate sex references, references to bullying

The sensational winner of the Grand Jury Prize for documentary at this year's Sundance Film Festival, “Boys State” is a wildly entertaining and continually revealing immersion into a week-long annual program in which a thousand Texas high school seniors gather for an elaborate mock exercise: building their own state government.

Filmmakers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine closely track the escalating tensions that arise within a particularly riveting gubernatorial race, training their cameras on unforgettable teenagers like Ben, a Reagan-loving arch-conservative who brims with confidence despite personal setbacks, and Steven, a progressive-minded child of Mexican immigrants who stands by his convictions amidst the sea of red. In the process, they have created a complex portrait of contemporary American masculinity, as well as a microcosm of our often dispiriting national political divisions that nevertheless manages to plant seeds of hope.

Last updated
October 30, 2021

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