(KMAland) — Five hundred Missouri high school girls are the stars of a new documentary.
Girls State It is described as a film about political coming of age. A week-long immersive democracy experimentThey will build a mock government from the ground up and address important issues such as abortion rights and encouraging more women to enter government.
This movie is Boys Statewon awards at major film festivals in 2020. Filmmaker Amanda McBain, who co-directed both films with Jesse Moss, said it was interesting to compare the Girls State and Boys State programs because it was the first time they had been held in the same week.
“The magnitude of the difference surprised me and the kids. I think in many ways they (the girls) were hindered from forming a government as quickly as the boys,” McBain said.
The filmmakers said they chose Missouri because it reflects the political diversity of the U.S. “Girls State” is currently a hit on streaming platform Apple TV Plus.
McBain said that despite the diversity of opinions among the young women, communication among them was respectful and they didn’t shy away from major topics.
“They created the Supreme Court and gave it the power to hear privacy cases that were very similar to Dobbs-Jackson,” she explained. “They seized the moment and acted on it, recognizing each other and saying, ‘Hey, your politics may be different, but I understand how much you guys need this power.'”
McBain added that Girls State participants emphasize the importance of representation in a democracy. According to a Pew Research Center study, by 2023 Only about 30% Ten percent of state senate seats are held by women, and McBain calls the documentary “a powerful portrayal of politics through the eyes of a young woman.”
