Watch Frontrunners

Frontrunners is a 2008 documentary film that follows the election campaign of four high school seniors running for office at Stuyvesant High School in New York City. The film directed by Caroline Suh focuses on the challenges and obstacles faced by the competitors as they compete head-to-head for the position of student council president.

The film begins by introducing each of the candidates and their backgrounds. Alex, a Chinese-American, comes from a political family and has a deep desire to create positive change within the school. George, a Greek-American, is viewed as the underdog in the race due to his lack of experience and the fact that he is not involved in any school clubs or activities. Hannah, Jewish, is an overachiever who is involved in many school activities and has a dedicated following of supporters. Finally, Nicole, is the only girl in the race and aims to be a role model for other female students.

Throughout the film, viewers are given an inside look at the behind-the-scenes operations of the campaign, from planning meetings to door-to-door canvassing. The film documents the challenges and strategies employed by each candidate as they try to win over voters with their platforms and speeches.

One of the main themes of the film is the different approaches taken by the candidates. Alex focuses on creating a legacy and implementing big changes within the school, while George emphasizes the importance of personal connections and creating a sense of community. Hannah and Nicole both focus on implementing smaller, yet impactful changes, such as improving the school cafeteria and providing more opportunities for student involvement.

As the campaign progresses, tensions rise and the candidates begin to resort to more creative and sometimes questionable strategies to win over voters. The film also highlights the effect of social media on the election, with candidates using YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms to appeal to their peers.

The film is not just a documentation of a high school election campaign, but it serves as an insightful exploration into democracy, and can be seen as a microcosm of the larger political sphere. The viewer sees how the candidates deal with negative campaigning, the art of compromise, and other hurdles that can be applied to larger-scope politics as well. Beyond that, it is a look into the psyche of young people who are soon to be taking leadership positions.

Frontrunners is a magnifying glass on the lives of the candidates as they go through their day-to-day activities, from participating in school events to attending interviews with reporters. The film’s main strength is its ability to capture the energy and excitement of the election campaign, while also providing opportunities to reflect on larger political issues such as democracies principles and the importance of representation.

In conclusion, Frontrunners provides a unique and fascinating insight into a high school election campaign, with strong themes and relatable human story. The documentary is an engaging and captivating look at the challenges faced by student politicians, and how their campaigns reflect the broader themes of democracy and leadership that run through society more generally. For anyone interested in politics or just an opportunity to peek behind the curtain of high school politics, Frontrunners is definitely worth a watch.

Frontrunners is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 69.