Miss Snake Charmer

Miss Snake Charmer, released in 2018, is a poignant documentary encapsulating a Texan tradition that blends offbeat intensity with heartening tales of growth and transformation. Set in the small town of Sweetwater, Texas, the film navigates through the dramatic highs and lows of a unique pageant that showcases rather unconventional skills and bravery.

Led by an ensemble cast that includes local girls Alyssa Soles, Riley Dodd, Cheyanna Petty, Brooke Petty, and Courtney Velasquez, the film unveils the indispensable charm of rural America in terms of its socio-cultural identity. Each of these primary characters shares an unseverable bond with Sweetwater, irrespective of their diverse backgrounds and idiosyncrasies.

Sweetwater is not just another small town on the map of Texas. It is where thousands of people and hunters culminate every second weekend of March for a bold tradition dating back to 1958. Contrasting with the conventional charm of southern manners and beauty pageants, renowned director Rachel Bardin ingeniously brings an event dubbed the 'World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up' to the forefront. A unique blend of rustic grandeur, community camaraderie, and fearless spirit frames this annual event that attracts numerous locals and tourists from across the world.

Weaving through the heart of this grand event is a unique beauty pageant, the focus of Bardin's compelling narrative. Unlike typical beauty contests, the 'Miss Snake Charmer' pageant requires contenders to demonstrate snake handling and skinning skills along with the conventional talents, poise, and fashion prowess.

From the registration day to the selection of the winner, Bardin seamlessly captures the emotions, fears, excitement, and motivations of these diverse young women. Miss Snake Charmer presents their heartwarming camaraderie and gentle rivalry, breaking stereotypic pageantry molds and portraying them as strong, fearless women standing shoulder-to-shoulder in an otherwise male-dominated event. While the rattlesnakes may be real and menacing, they serve as more than a literal threat to these young women. They evolve into metaphoric reminders of the stakes involved, the suddenness of danger, and the inevitable hurdles that life throws at us.

As the young girls - Alyssa, Riley, Cheyanna, Brooke, and Courtney, set their foot in the somewhat bizarre yet sentimental world of Miss Snake Charmer, they find themselves in a journey of self-discovery. By focusing on the individual experiences and collective candor of these protagonists, Bardin masterfully personifies their courage, their dreams, their dilemmas, and the essence of their extraordinary circumstances.

The film presents Alyssa Soles, a diligent and ambitious participant competing for the reigning title while juggling her commitments as a college freshman. Then there's Riley Dodd, a fun-loving, vivacious teenager, navigating her life through school, work, and desire to be Miss Snake Charmer. The Petty sisters- Cheyanna and Brooke bring a riveting dynamic to the narrative. Cheyanna, the older sister and the reigning Miss Snake Charmer, struggles with the weight of expectations and the daunting task of mentoring her younger sister, Brooke, who’s a newcomer to the pageant. Lastly, Courtney Velasquez, an enthusiastic participant, tirelessly prepares for the pageant while wrestling with her own fears.

Against the backdrop of Sweetwater’s vast, rugged landscapes, and beneath the whirl of rattlesnake roundups, barbecues, and an astonishing display of resilience and sportsmanship, Bardin offers an empathetic examination into the lives of these young women. In a sublime blend of raw reality and cinematic storytelling, Miss Snake Charmer brings to the forefront, their journey marked by courage, determination and the relentless spirit of community and competition.

Miss Snake Charmer is a doorway into a space that not many can comprehend from the outside. It does an excellent job of highlighting the beauty, fear, courage, and passion that these young women exhibit throughout their experience. It is an incredible tapestry of everyday bravery and femininity that it stitches together to create an exhilarating, heartfelt narrative. Detail-rich and visually compelling, Miss Snake Charmer paints a portrait of a group of young women who defy expectations, break down barriers and celebrate life in all its complicated and thrilling beauty. While you witness their everyday struggles and triumphs, you inadvertently find yourself cheering for each one of these brave young women, captivated by their incredible journey and the life lessons they present.

Whether it's the intoxicating thrill of capturing a snake, the daunting task of skinning it, the electrifying moment of walking down the aisle in an evening gown, or the humbling respect and fear from living in close proximity to venomous threats, Miss Snake Charmer celebrates it all. It’s a documentary that encapsulates the extraordinary in an ordinary-looking world, thereby serving as a heartening testament to the young women of tomorrow.