Review: In the captivating, sobering 'Boys State,' teenage politicians take the stage
In "Boys State," an electrifying documentary about the mock-government program for high schoolers, the act of governance itself sometimes devolves into outright mockery. What else would you expect when, to quote one amused participant, "you put a bunch of 17-year-old boys in a room together"? You get campaign speeches overflowing with ego and testosterone. You get legislative sessions jammed with nonsensical proposals, like a $15 billion infrastructure bill to combat an alien invasion. When a rare voice of sanity finally takes the floor and asks, "Guys, is Boys State a joke?," you will find yourself pondering the same question.
Fortunately, the directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss ("The Overnighters") have a satisfyingly nuanced answer in mind. If Boys State is a
