Country Boys (2006)

Directed by

David Sutherland

Genre

documentary film

Country

United States

Runtime

6h

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This documentary follows two teenage boys in rural Kentucky over three years. It shows their lives at an alternative high school and their personal struggles with family, motivation, and fitting in.

intimateobservationalearnestslow-pacedempatheticgroundedthoughtful

What happens

Country Boys is a six-hour documentary film centered on Cody Perkins and Chris Johnson, two teenage boys from David, Kentucky. They attended the David School, a non-denominational alternative high school with a mission to serve underprivileged and struggling students. The film covers the three-year period from 1999 to 2002 in which the boys' ages range from 15 to 18. It was directed by David Sutherland. It was a three-part edition of Frontline on PBS, with each part running for two hours, originally broadcast in January 2006. The focus of the film is Cody and Chris' struggles with the problems of growing up in a rural, relatively impoverished environment. In addition, both boys have unique challenges. Chris, growing up in a family without strong role models and parents who limit him in a variety of ways, struggles to motivate himself to do well in school and life. Cody deals with how to find acceptance among his peers and reconcile his Christianity with his alternative lifestyle. The film is set in rural Kentucky. As a result, the film addresses a wide range of topics. Some of these topics include the gun culture, religion and science (a biology teacher and students at the David School are portrayed dismissing evolution and misinterpreting scientific ideas). (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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