Girls State

A documentary of nuance and persistence, Girls State is a must-watch film with its layered discussions on political issues and the striking presence of its young participants. It’s a showcase of what the future can hold with such astounding individuals paving the way. Although its release during an election year is coincidental more than anything, it is a welcome juxtaposition to the extreme divide in the current political climate, with teenage girls building relationships despite their differing beliefs and stances. Girls State is a leadership programme that teaches young women essential skills heading into the political space, allowing them to create campaigns and strategies, attend mock trials and participate in debates with those in opposition to them. Directed by partners Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, the film acts as a companion piece to their 2020 film documentary Boys State.

The feature begins with a series of images of different groups of people, all of whom have been in high positions of power throughout history. Every image highlights the very few women on display, emphasising the core theme of the Girls State programme. Despite everyone’s differences, they all have one thing in common: they all have never seen a female US president. While this sentiment is an admirable one, Girls State is not free of instances of inequality and micro-aggressive forms of sexism. This is the one thing the documentary does very well – presenting balanced perspectives, including criticism of the programme itself. It captures how, even in events like these, feminism can still be used as a weapon to put women down. This is even more blatant because, for the first time in history, both Missouri Boys State and Missouri Girls State are being held on the same campus.

While the film does touch on the comparison between how Boys State and Girls State is run, it’s not the main focus. Girls State does enough to demonstrate there are discussions to be had about the hypocrisy of it all – but it’s how the girls react to those differences and the actions they take to bridge that gap that’s truly the focus of the documentary. Moss and McBaine did a fantastic job of scouting their subjects; each has a diverse background and strong personality. Nisha, Emily and Faith specifically are really interesting to follow. It’s also wonderful to see the relationship between the girls blossom as they build connections that surpass political differences and the competitive nature of some of the activities. Emily and Maddie, and Nisha and Brooke, are a couple of friendships that truly flourish throughout the documentary and stick with the viewer.

The production of Girls State is very cinematic. It doesn’t feel like a classic documentary – rather, a movie with story arcs to follow and characters to root for. There’s an effort made in the cinematography, the editing and the narrative structure of the film to humanise the subjects, allowing the audience to feel that much closer to them. They’re not just mouthpieces for the right or the left, or talking heads. Above all else, they’re just young people, coming of age and broadening their perspective of politics and society, before the harsh divide of a two-party system comes crashing down on them.

Girls State is an incredible piece: it’s empowering, not just for women, but for anyone who wants to engage in more nuanced and open discussions of politics. Beyond that, it’s also a story of friendship, determination and finding one’s place within the vast political spectrum.

Mae Trumata

Girls State is released on Apple TV+ on 5^th April 2024.

Watch the trailer for Girls State here: