The Third Monday in October

The Third Monday in October is a delightful and inspiring documentary that chronicles the lives of eleven middle school students from a variety of settings and communities across the US in their quest for student government president. The film takes an intimate journey with these young candidates as they enter their races, through their campaigning, slogan writing, public speaking and debating - until the final emotional and dramatic day of school elections the audience is entertained and inspired by these young people and their quest for democracy. Filmed against the backdrop of the 2004 National elections, The Third Monday in October provides a unique, compelling and inspiring look at the development of political identity, differences in class, race and the diversity of culture within our country. It is insightful as well as entertaining!

While this film could be touted as the next "Spellbound" given the subject matter; the actual film itself doesn't nearly live up to that kind of comparison. The film chronicles many students at 4 different schools around the country all vying for Presidential bids in their Jr. Highs. A great concept. But somehow it ended up being boring. We never feel any connection with any of the characters. This may be because there are too many. But more likely, the flaw lies in the editing. Rather than doing a character study, really delving into home-lives, getting perspectives of multiple teachers and students; the film tries to stretch the "competition" across 90 minutes. I'm sorry, but watching kids shop for posterboard, then making their posters, then carrying their posters, then putting up their posters just isn't that interesting. What should have been focused on was the politics of Jr. High Elections. That subject was only scratched upon. So were the mid-term elections against which the film is set. The movie suffers from an inconsistency in how the schools are approached, too many schools, a painful soundtrack, and the wrong execution. Still, watching kids get emotional about losing/winning an election is entertaining, but the film needed more than just an over-extended plot. 5/10.

I saw this film at the Tribeca Film Festival in May 2007 and fell in love with it. The director, Vanessa Roth, does an excellent job of chronicling the lives, aspirations, and challenges of young middle school students running for student council president. It definitely takes me back a few years! The editing is tight yet gives space for the individual stories of each of the student government races spotlighted in the film. Each story is dramatic and unique. We're all familiar with the archetypes represented by the students spotlighted--arrogant jock, poor but sincere scholar, over-achieving dynamo, popular charmer, beauty queen, et al.--yet these students' stories are humanized in ways that few other films have managed to do. Vulnerabilities and strengths come from unexpected places.

Roth does a good job of juxtaposing the national presidential elections and drawing parallels between the personal and the political -- from the terrazzo hallways of a suburban middle school to the invoked marble floors of the White House. "Will we see any of these students taking a greater oath of office one day?" is the question that resonates.