A five-part documentary series, Bucks County USA, about a politically divided Bucks County community premiered on Tuesday at the Sundance Film Festival, writes Earl Hopkins for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In the series synopsis, Bucks County USA follows a “painfully divided community” that becomes a “battleground for distrust and personal attacks” after the pandemic hits.
Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson and Robert May center the story around 14-year-old best friends Evi and Vanessa, as politically opposing leaders fight for control over the school board and policymaking.
The teens watch their families and community fragment over differing political beliefs. They see county officials and residents clashing over COVID-19 safety measures, such as the transition to virtual learning and mask mandates. Some parents face threats for supporting safety proposals.
But despite their families’ clashing political views, Evi and Vanessa keep their friendship intact and show the community it is possible to find common ground.
“The series explores whether this community can follow Evi and Vanessa’s example to find common humanity in ‘the other side,’” explains the film synopsis. “It asks: “Can Bucks County – and America as a whole – break the cycle and find a new path forward?”
Read more about Bucks County, USA in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
