A powerful new documentary, Gone Guys, will premiere with a series of community screenings across Vermont, inviting viewers into "a timely, necessary conversation" about the challenges facing boys and young men today, wrote organizers in a news release.
Produced by Well Told Films and made possible with leadership support from the Richard E. & Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation and the Vermont Community Foundation, Gone Guys explores the growing disconnection many boys face in school, work, and community life - and how that disconnection is reshaping the social fabric in Vermont and beyond.
Through personal stories, data, and insight, the 45-minute film examines how issues like struggles in school, loneliness, and even radicalization are taking root in the lives of young men and what communities can do about it.
"This is an issue we are hearing more and more about from parents, educators, business owners, and others," Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation, said in a news release. "Something is out of sync for many boys and young men, and it's showing up in classrooms, job sites, and communities." Our community must hold two truths simultaneously, he says: "advancing opportunity for women and girls remains essential" and "boys and young men are struggling in ways we can no longer ignore. Gone Guys invites us to face that complexity with care, curiosity, and a willingness to listen."
Lauren Curry, executive director of the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation, says their organization has partnered directly with schools and educators for "a long time" to address these concerns."The outcomes data in Vermont and nationally are getting worse. It feels like we need to have a deeper conversation. What are we noticing in our own lives? What are we experiencing?"
Curry said this film "grew out of a partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation that really encouraged us to think about how we might engage a topic that can feel difficult to talk about. That's necessary work for us to do as foundations. And I think it's necessary work for each of us individually to consider what solutions exist in our own actions and ideas."
Local screenings, which include a post-film panel discussion featuring local educators, youth leaders, and community members, are scheduled for Thursday, July 17, at 6 p.m. at the Bellows Falls Opera House; and Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. at the Latchis Theatre in Brattleboro. The film will also be shown at the Latchis from Sept. 26 through Oct. 2 without a post-film discussion.
All screenings are free. A ticket is required for attendance, and seating will be limited. Ticket and event information can be found at goneguysfilm.com.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.