IMDb reviews From IMDb
Now more relevant than ever, “Girls State” is
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots
Now more relevant than ever, “Girls State” is an inspiring documentary that shines a light on the future of American democracy through the eyes of ambitious…
Now more relevant than ever, “Girls State” is an inspiring documentary that shines a light on the future of American democracy through the eyes of ambitious, intelligent, and passionate young women.
This political coming-of-age film (a companion piece to 2020’s “Boys State”) follows 500 high school girls from Missouri as they gather for a week-long democratic experiment where they create a government from scratch. What emerges is an empowering look at how femininity and leadership intertwine, as these young women demonstrate the drive, intelligence, and ambition needed to shape the world.
The documentary captures a diverse group of teenage girls who are well-spoken and articulate, engaging in meaningful discussions about governance, policy, and the issues that matter most to them. Their passion for politics and their vision for the future are inspiring, offering hope for a generation of leaders ready to tackle the world’s problems head-on. Co-directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss take care to center their focus on a handful of participants, allowing an intimate glimpse into how the program transforms these young women.
One of the most interesting aspects here is the documentary’s exploration of the systemic inequalities that emerge between the Girls and Boys State programs, both of which are being hosted on the same campus for the first time. This shared setting naturally invites comparisons between the two, with the program for boys often receiving more attention and being taken more seriously as a venue for meaningful political discourse. The film doesn’t shy away from these disparities, subtly highlighting the gendered expectations that still persist in the world of politics.
What truly stands out is the way these young women embrace the ideas of cooperation and collaboration. Watching them navigate the challenges of building a government from the ground up while forming bonds and sharing their diverse perspectives is quite uplifting. Their willingness to engage with one another, even across ideological divides, offers a refreshing vision of what leadership can look like (and something our country so desperately needs at the moment).
“Girls State” is a well-made documentary that celebrates the potential of young women to change the world. It’s a film that leaves you hopeful for the future, as these teenage girls exhibit the determination and vision to reach extraordinary heights. They are, without a doubt, the future leaders we need.
By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS
Read full review
★ 8 / 10
Boys State vs. Girls State
zvxcpt
Having watched Boys State and Girls State back-to-back on consecutive days, I was surprised how different the films were. The young men in Boys State often…
Having watched Boys State and Girls State back-to-back on consecutive days, I was surprised how different the films were. The young men in Boys State often come across as entitled, especially in their entrenched views regarding 2nd Amendment rights and abortion. Much of what is featured in that movie is pure politicking, saying and doing whatever is needed to win office, independent of the boys' actual beliefs or without regard to the consequences. In Girls State, the young women are forced to go through far more trivial rituals and follow set rules, which prevents them from actually dealing with issues for the first part of the movie. However, when they finally get past those hindrances, the students are much more serious and thoughtful about the issues, which leads to some great scenes, especially the Supreme Court case and the three featured Governors' speeches. In the end, I found myself caring much more about the young women in Girls State than the young men in Boys State. Girls State also left me much more hopeful about the future of the U. S. A. Than the male version. Even so, these are both excellent, thoughtful, enlightening movies and I would recommend them both. Do yourself a favour and watch both movies. It will be more than worth your time.
Read full review
★ 8 / 10
Another Chilling Insight
david-meldrum
Boys State was - to me at least - a little terrifying. It doesn't help that I'm not American, and that for some years I've been of the view that patriotism is…
Boys State was - to me at least - a little terrifying. It doesn't help that I'm not American, and that for some years I've been of the view that patriotism is usually dangerous. Whilst the film wasn't without some boys who made me a little hopeful, it wasn't a film that has left me feeling hopeful.
Coming to Girls State, it's hard to shake the feeling of a little tokenism, a little that this was a project riding the coattails of the former film's success. I don't know how much of that is true, and it's hard not to see this in the shadow of Boys State. The film itself actively encourages that - much of the first act sees the girls complaining that they don't spend much time talking politics on the programme and complaining about inequities between the boys' and girls' events (in the year this was filmed, taking place for the first time on the same campus, at the same time). Whilst the first film spent much of the time focusing on the boys bidding to be elected Governor, the equivalent here is a relatively small part of the story; as much, or more, time is given to the assembly's Supreme Court, and to the young woman writing an article for the newsletter about the inequities. It's all given context by the uncomfortable reality that over the week of the assembly news was breaking in the 'real' world of the leaked Supreme Court decision that would go on to overturn Roe vs Wade.
Parts of it scared me once again. The unaccompanied girls singing a patriotic song might be inspiring to many Americans, but to me felt chillingly cultlike. I'd have loved both films to have critiqued this more; and how the apparent majority of girls who disagreed with that infamous Supreme Court ruling felt they could sing that song with a clear conscience. And whilst all the words of empowerment and envisioning are present and correct, it's hard to shake the feeling that whilst Boys State prepares boys to govern, Girls State exists to give girls a cruel glimpse of something that will be shut off to many of them - or at least much harder for them to reach.
The closing credits play out to Taylor Swift's 'The Man, which under the circumstances feels apposite. I'm not clear what story the film-makers are wanting to tell here, but that may be the film's most important point. As a pair, these films are quite the double-bill.
Read full review
More reviews on IMDb ↗
♡ Thanks for supporting YTS Supporter badges recognize people who help keep YTS running.
95%
TOMATOMETER
· 63 reviews
63%
AUDIENCE
6.6/10
1.1K
•••
Within 6 months they would be usurped and we would be living under an authoritarian dictatorship.