Teenage Wasteland | WATCH DOCS

An inspiring true story of high school students from a small town near New York who, guided by a determined teacher, uncovered a toxic waste scandal at a local landfill. Set against the rebellious spirit of the 1990s, the film captures the raw energy of youth and the power of civic courage. What began as a school project soon led them into dangerous territory, as the illegal disposal of hazardous waste was then controlled by New York’s most powerful mafia families. Millions of dollars, corrupt politicians, and the threat of “cement shoes” loomed in the background. Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss craft a film that fuses nostalgia for a time when everything seemed possible with a sober meditation on activism and accountability. Grainy shots of teenagers sneaking into a mafia-run dump, jarringly low-res by today’s standards, remind us how rare and vital that sense of agency once felt. 

Konrad Wirkowski