SXSW Film Preview: FrontRunners

At Stuyvesant High, or Stuy for short, precocious is what they do best. You've got film actresses, hedge fund enthusiasts and your average, run-of-the-mill geniuses. Stuy is arguably one of the most competitive public schools in the entire country, so you can imagine the all out battle royale that ensues during its annual torture fest, also known as the campaign season for Student Union (SU) President.

This isn't your typical high school student council race—it is a full fledged election with primaries and running mates, televised debates and newspaper endorsements. The candidates must take such things into consideration as "Can a ticket without Asian representation win?", "What is the best way to market our platform?", and "Will I have to quit the theater council if I am elected?" These kids take themselves incredibly seriously and fight for their right to rule until the final ballot is cast.

Much like the highly enthralling Sundance buzz film American Teen, FrontRunners aims to chronicle the trials and tribulations faced by "ordinary" American high school aged people. FrontRunners is not sensational in any way, and manages to stay much more subjective than American Teen, simply observing as opposed to commenting. The four presidential candidates are not made to fit into a can of social archetype soup, but at the same time are not quite as interesting as we would have hoped. Director Caroline Suh does an admirable job of guiding the story to keep us guessing until the end (even though we had already chosen our candidate) but falls short of providing a fully fleshed impression of each student's life outside of the election, and what makes them so incredibly driven to capture the flag of presidency.

If you ever ran for office in high school, this may be an interesting documentary to you. Otherwise, it may just remind you of how much you hated high school and all of the pushy, annoying politicos that existed inside and outside of the election. Either way, FrontRunners is in the running for awards in the documentary film competition and we as an audience can put in our two cents. Go see the film and then vote your conscience!

FrontRunners will have its World Premiere Tonight, Monday, March 10th at the Alamo Ritz as part of the SXSW Film Festival. More info at the Film Threat / B-Side SXSW Guide.

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By oh, steph in Arts & Entertainment on March 10, 2008 8:16 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

oh steph

Chester - first off, allow me to commend you on your proper Economist greeting. Sir is always welcome here at Austinist.

In regards to your comment - indeed, I recognize the implicit political underpinnings that Director Suh was alluding to. I wished to talk about the grander scheme of politics in America, but fell short on time and space in which to inform our readers about the screening this eve. However, while I could render a diatribe on the film's mission, I chose to look at it from the point of view of someone yearing to understand the individual, as opposed to the system. In this day and age, if I can't glean the root of a character's motivation, then why bother caring?

Yes, those in power crave control and influence, but they also crave love and passion and connection, whether or not that ever bubbles to the surface of their public lives.

Please note that I have no beef with the film or filmmaker, but just wished to have felt more connected to the reasons, well, why people do what they do.

Thank you for the feedback. It was well placed and most certainly welcome.

chester2527

"Director Caroline Suh does an admirable job of guiding the story to keep us guessing until the end (even though we had already chosen our candidate) but falls short of providing a fully fleshed impression of each student's life outside of the election, and what makes them so incredibly driven to capture the flag of presidency.""

Sir - Your point is well received yet i believe it is predicated on a false understanding of the film's inherent mission. It is a unique glimpse at a microcosm of the phenomenon of democratic government which we so proudly flaunt as nation, and moreso an examination of how that tradition, in both theory and practice, has permeated into the deepest crevices of our society, and what the implications are.

It is most definitely not an ethnography and should not be judged as such lest be criticized for straying from the criterion of one. Who the hell wants to watch a movie about some megalomaniacal, overachieving, privileged city kids anyway?

"What makes them so incredibly driven" - Well, since when haven't people wanted power for one reason or another. The thirst for power, or at least control, is all but tied to our very human nature. High School is no different. It is certainly not a question of profound enough origin to overshadow Director Caroline Suh's correctly placed emphasis on the more relevant and intriguing subject matter.

chester2527

"Director Caroline Suh does an admirable job of guiding the story to keep us guessing until the end (even though we had already chosen our candidate) but falls short of providing a fully fleshed impression of each student's life outside of the election, and what makes them so incredibly driven to capture the flag of presidency.""

Sir - Your point is well received yet i believe it is predicated on a false understanding of the film's inherent mission. It is a unique glimpse at a microcosm of the phenomenon of democratic government which we so proudly flaunt as nation, and moreso an examination of how that tradition, in both theory and practice, has permeated into the deepest crevices of our society, and what the implications are.

It is most definitely not an ethnography and should not be judged as such lest be criticized for straying from the criterion of one. Who the hell wants to watch a movie about some megalomaniacal, overachieving, privileged city kids anyway?

"What makes them so incredibly driven" - Well, since when haven't people wanted power for one reason or another. The thirst for power, or at least control, is all but tied to our very human nature. High School is no different. It is certainly not a question of profound enough origin to overshadow Director Caroline Suh's correctly placed emphasis on the more relevant and intriguing subject matter.