Boys State has been happening all over the US since 1937, but this documentary follows the annual event in Texas: a thousand high school seniors participate in a week-long exercise to build their own state government. The filmmakers followed several young men as they pursued their goals for elected office. Interestingly, the conflicts mirror the divisions in this country and even the sometimes shady machinations of politics. Besides the obvious political statements the doc makes, there’s very little personal insight into the adolescents and there are gaps in the development of some of proceedings. Even so, it’s a fascinating study of the over-stimulated approaches of adolescent males seasoned with the reality of the contradictions of government and politics.
(4 / 5)