To Be a Miss

To Be a Miss is an intrinsically captivating documentary film that leaps into the heart of one of the most established and controversial beauty pageants in the world—Miss Venezuela. Released in 2016, this gripping film was conceived and executed by Edward Ellis, Flor Salcedo, and Aaron Woolf. As an introspective look into the world of beauty, glamour, obsession and the societal norms that feed them, To Be a Miss is an exploration that takes viewers where few have gained access before.

Situated in Venezuela, a country with a deep-seated obsession for beauty pageants, and known for nurturing some of the most beautiful women browsed globally by modeling and entertainment industries, the film critically examines the beauty industry's impact on women, their self-perception, interpersonal relationships, and society as a whole. To Be a Miss traverses through a myriad of perspectives, from the young girls aspiring for the crown, to the dedicated mentors bent on meticulous preparation, to the parents dreaming high for their daughters.

With a potent blend of narratives that revolve around aspiration, societal norms, and femininity, this feature documentary delves into the meticulous crafting process of an ideal Miss Venezuela. The filmmakers follow several Venezuelan women as they pursue their dreams of becoming a Miss, providing an eye-opening inspection of the painstaking grooming process, including the efforts made to conform to certain beauty standards and the physical adjustments sometimes made in the pursuit of this aspiration.

While the women's sacrifice, tenacity, and ambition are clearly on display in the film, To Be a Miss also unflinchingly shines a spotlight on the societal pressures and the weight of expectation that comes with pursuing a crown. In a society where women are often judged heavily on their appearance, the extreme lengths to which contestants are willing to go in the quest for physical perfection is examined and presented in a raw and brutally honest manner.

To Be a Miss does not shy away from depicting the dichotomies that exist within the Venezuelan society. Throughout the film, one can see the stark contrast between the glimmering beauty academies and the notorious crime-ridden streets of Caracas, while also exploring the social-economic backdrop of a country plunging into crisis amid escalating violence and political instability. It offers incredibly poignant moments that capture the reality of everyday Venezuelans, often unseen or overlooked beyond the pageant glitz and glamour.

As the movie progresses, it constructs an intricate cross-section of a society that thrives on beauty and perfection while also suffering from severe economic and political turmoil. It raises compelling questions about self-worth, body image, societal standards of beauty, and the broader implications of the pageant culture in a national and global context.

To Be A Miss is a carefully crafted portrayal of the oscillating relationship between beauty and society. Its characters are imbued with the multi-faceted layers of humanity, offering them depth and relatability. Moreover, the direction permits the audience to empathize with these characters, regardless of personal opinion and sentiment on the subject of beauty contests.

This film's real power lies in its capacity to challenge viewers to reflect on their own beliefs and views about beauty pageants, societal norms, and standards. Therein is the magic of Ellis, Salcedo, and Woolf's observational cinema, the capability to offer an empathetic, humanistic portrayal of its subjects, while being inherently critical of the societal pressures they face and the system they are a part of.

In a nutshell, To Be a Miss is a critical investigation into Venezuela's cultural phenomenon of beauty pageantry. It serves as an audacious exploration into the cultural and societal values of beauty, their impacts on individual identities, and the larger societal fabric of a country that has been bitterly divided and ravaged by political instability. Though set in Venezuela, its themes are universal, making it a deeply resonant documentary, delivering its message with precision and eloquence. It's a must-watch for anyone intrigued by the world of beauty pageants, societal norms, and the pressures of social conformity.