
There was a girl who was asked to pick a Supreme Court case and she replied, ‘The one about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.’ As if it wasn’t enough of a disaster, someone had the bright idea of incorporating a cupcake station and bracelet-making as part of the opening night icebreaker. However, the real cringe factor of Girls State the documentary sequel to the Oscar-winning Boys State is the decision of Missouri’s Governor to showcase herself at the ceremonial swearing-in for the boys’ high school students gathering while the girls were sitting in a meeting in another room at the same location. This is not the only situation where the two programs showed an imbalance.
Boys State, around since the 1930s by the American Legion, and Girls State, around since the 1940s by the American Legion Auxiliary which are available except for Hawaii, are program activities where grouping high school students for one week to form a government structure complete with the appointment of a supreme court and an elected governor. Like its predecessor, this film is insightful about these highly accomplished yet remarkably young ladies who have devotion, purpose, and altruism.
You could also note their charming innocence (one of them says she wants to become the President of the US, a TV journalist, and a rock star), as well as their childish yet realistic imitation of certain aspects that they have noticed in the sad reality of our national politics. At least some of the participants found out that it is often the case that teachers would say the candidate who boasts competence and reliability and has a distinct policy and priorities gets more support and votes, but they have already observed that such candidates can do better with a loud and robust speech about their strengths and how the voters are so right and deserving.
The production of this film occurred in the spring of 2022, following the issue of the preliminary version of the US Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case, whereby the Court appeared to intend to revoke the right to abortion, but preceding the finalization of the same. Teenage girls who had gathered to discuss issues of policies and politics that are ever so complicated and controversial at the same time are likely to have found this to be a subject of passion. For sure, the issue of Missouri law which compels the performers to receive psychological counsel before an abortion which is the only case that went to the Supreme Court dame involves two women who can be quintessential litigators, supported by seven ‘judges’ wearing robes who were able to give considerable thoughts towards the issue. The story revolves around Tochi Ihekona, a child of Nigerian immigrants and one of the film’s most compelling subjects, who collaborated in favor of the opinion she opposes, to advance the feature of the law.
The film opens with black and white photographs of historical women attending significant political events such as Justice Sandra Day O’Connor with her judicial colleagues and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the Oval Office. The first representation we hear of the Girls State speaker brings the concern to the present.
One of the girls, during the seminar, mentions that her desire is to emulate “Mary Poppins”, a character who encourages women’s suffrage in a manner that is considerate and is done in a ‘soft, fluttery voice’ which ‘emanates confidence’. As the speaker asserts, “She is a woman of great femininity,” however, she invites all the other participants not to give in easily to being loud.
Nothing great in the sight of this conference could be achieved without a sense of great unity within thousands. They are in the process of forming their opinions and may possess obsessive competitiveness. They do not speak over one another and one even stands while tying the hair of some girl. “If you ask me, it is a dream come true. Just sit around the campfire singing songs,” one says, encouraging dialogue about getting people’s views other than ‘the boys’ who were very politically obsessed and not with the administration. Early on, the girls saw that unfairness carries a heavy cost, a reality that will be hard to ignore when these two groups are thrust together for the first time. Boys are permitted to wear no shirts but girls cannot wear even dress codes that were in style nearly forty years ago. Not to forget the cupcakes, and the governor being absent.
An upset applicant emerges victorious as an investigative journalist who dares to ask critical questions like comparison was never an option between the two programs, while some critical comparison, which in fact, was more than in order not only came as a surprise but sensible as well. It’s quite refreshing to witness their dedication, anger, and belief that they surely and absolutely can and must improve upon what is offered. They have my support.
For More Movies Like Girls State Visit on 123movies