“Rain Man” Director Barry Levinson’s New Doc Shows How Politics Tore Apart an ‘Idyllic’ Pennsylvania Town (Exclusive)

**New Documentary Explores Political Divides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania**

A new documentary titled *Bucks County, USA*, co-directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson and producer Robert May, is set to premiere on PBS on September 20. The five-part docuseries delves into the complexities of political division within the Bucks County community, a region that has garnered attention as a critical swing area in recent elections.

Levinson, known for his acclaimed films such as *Rain Man* and *Good Morning, Vietnam*, reveals that the documentary was not intended to serve as an exhaustive political investigation. “We weren’t trying to do a political investigation. We just wanted to show a town, what the community is like and why there are problems in what seems like an idyllic area,” he explained. The filmmakers spent over a hundred days documenting life in Bucks County, uncovering the local ramifications of broader national political divides.

Robert May echoed this sentiment, highlighting the focus on the escalating tensions in community discussions. “We heard a New York Times Daily podcast about school board wars in Bucks County, and so we started to pay attention. Parents were going to the school board meetings, arguing on behalf of their children from two different sides about their education and what they were being taught.”

The situation escalated as national political issues began infiltrating discussions at school board meetings, turning what should have been local educational matters into a battleground for broader ideological conflicts. “So it wasn’t just about the school board, per se. It was about all these other things that they were bringing into this community,” May noted.

Central to the narrative are two teenage girls, Evi Casey and Vanessa Martino, best friends who find themselves on opposing sides of the political spectrum due to their families’ contrasting views. “Their parents didn’t like each other very much at all,” May remarked. “But talking to the girls, and other students, was almost a lesson in being able to learn how to talk to one another again.” This personal story offers a microcosm of the larger conflicts occurring within Bucks County and, by extension, across the nation.

What began as a “social experiment” between the filmmakers has transformed into a broader inquiry into the potential for civil discourse amid increasing animosity. Levinson emphasised the importance of communication in bridging the divide, stating, “It doesn’t matter if you want to be a Republican or a Democrat. Okay. But does that mean we can’t communicate?”

The filmmakers express hope that their project will inspire viewers to reconsider their approach to dialogue in an increasingly fragmented society. “We’re going down a path that I think is detrimental, rather than asking, ‘How do we just find answers that we can agree upon and not just be oppositional?’” Levinson added.

While the documentary does not offer a neat resolution to the issues it raises, the filmmakers report a shift in perceptions among the participants and the crew who have engaged with the stories shared during filming. “It doesn’t end in a bow by any means, but we’ve learned that the people involved have gained a new respect for each other,” May explained.

The hope is that audiences will not only witness these stories but be inspired to foster greater understanding in their communities. As Levinson and May prepare for the premiere, they remain optimistic about the potential impact of *Bucks County, USA*, encouraging viewers to engage with one another despite their differences.

The premiere of *Bucks County, USA* on PBS is anticipated to spark dialogue surrounding the documentary’s themes and may serve as a catalyst for change in how individuals approach political discussions, both locally and nationally.