
Running with Beto
2019

2020
PG-13Director
Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss
Runtime
110 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
This raucous journey into the heart of democracy captures an unusual rite of passage: 1,100 teenage boys from across Texas coming together to build a representative government from the ground up.
Overall Score
Fair
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film lacks prominent LGBTQ+ narratives or depictions of non-cisnormative identities. Because the subject matter is a gender-segregated simulation for boys, these identities are absent from the primary focus.
Gender Representation
The documentary focuses on the performance of traditional masculinity and competitive social hierarchies. It documents the reinforcement of masculine archetypes rather than subverting traditional gender hierarchies.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The film provides meaningful representation by showing how race and class intersect in Texas politics. It avoids monolithic portrayals, highlighting how identity influences political agency among students of color.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The narrative explores the friction between individual ambition and established democratic structures. It offers a sophisticated look at how students navigate political maneuvering and ideological polarization.
Disability Representation
There is no significant or central focus on neurodivergence or physical disabilities. The film does not use disability as a primary lens for character agency or narrative development.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
Boys State serves as a sociological study of how identity is forged within institutional structures. It excels at deconstructing the mechanics of political identity and the tensions inherent in civic engagement. The film's limitations are largely tied to its specific subject matter. The gender-segregated nature of the program results in low scores for LGBTQ+ and gender-subversive representation. However, the documentary achieves depth by documenting the intersection of race, class, and political agency. It provides a nuanced view of how individual conviction clashes with systemic pressures.

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