简介：ThefascinatingcomplexityofhighschooldebategiveswaytoaportraitoftheequallycomplexracialandclassbiasofAmericaneducationinGregWhiteley'srivetingdocumentary.Initiallyaportraitoftop-flightdebatersfromwell-funded,mostlywhiteschools-likenationallyrankedSamIolaandMattAndrewsofHighlandPark,Texas-thefilmdeepenswhenitchangesfocustoRichardFunchesandLouisBlackwellfromLongBeach'sJordansquad.Whilegiftedtraditionaldebatersintheirownright,thetwodecidetochallengetheusefulnessofthejargon-filled,400-word-per-minutestyleofmoderndebate(knownas"thespread")bysteeringtheirdebatestowardissuesofpersonalexperienceanddialogue.Whatistheuseofrefininganargument,theystress,whenitdoesnotaffecttherealityofaperson'slocaleandparticularlife?Whymustindividualperspectiveandbiasbemasked?Formany,thesequestionspresentsucharadicalinterpretiveshiftthatcompetitorsandjudgescrumbleinfrontofthem.ContrastingFuchesandBlackwell'sattempttochallengethesystemwithAndrews'relentlesspursuittoexcelinitandwintheprestigiousTournamentofChampions,Whiteleydeftlyexploresthedisparitiesbetweenthedebaters,theirstyles,andtheirresources.Alternatelyinspiringandpolarizing,Resolvedrevealsaconstantlyshiftingsportthatisasmuchphilosophyascompetition.-TravisMiles(LosAngelesFilmFestival)WrittenbyAnonymous…