GREENSBORO – Last Thursday evening, the documentary Gone Guys, set in Vermont was screened at the Highland Center for the Arts. The 45 minute film draws influence from Richard V. Reeves’ 2022 book Of Boys and Men, and dives deep into the issues of male mental health, tackling aspects from higher education to substance abuse to societal expectation.
As a teenage boy myself, I have mostly good things to say about the film. Gone Guys digs into important data trends in male literacy, behavioral issue, suicide rate, and academics. I like that the film spends its runtime switching between factual national statistics and personal, individual perspectives from student and adult voices. These two components naturally flesh each other out and make each other feel whole. For example, the film will give a statistic on how the number of college-bound men is rapidly declining, then give personal accounts.
The most notable issue that the film tackles is the rigidity of traditional male expression. “What’s acceptable within our communities and within our society, it can definitely feel narrow,” says Ben Arendsee, a high school teacher appearing in the documentary. When asked the question “Do you feel like you spend more time trying to fit in or stand out?” Sean, a college student who appears throughout the film responds, “Unfortunately, I feel like I’ve spent a lot of time trying to fit in and be something that I’m not…”
This theme resonates with me. While not on as personal a note as some of my peers, I do see the effects of this rigidity in my everyday life. In a small high school there tends only to be one or two ways to, say, dress, socialize, or act. This has two effects, both stifling the expression of those who fit in and alienating those who do not. Strong feelings of directionlessness come from both sides of the issue, just as is presented by the film.
My only criticism of this film is that while it illustrates its issues very well, it does little to trace these issues back to their roots, or to fit them into a bigger societal picture. Doing so would leave the audience not only aware of the problems, but with a sense of what to do about them going forward.
Overall, Gone Guys paints an accurate picture of male social issues despite a slight lack of fleshed out background.
Will Helms, Hazen Union Intern
