Watch America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful is a thought-provoking documentary film, released in 2007, which takes a sobering look at the fashion and beauty industry of America. The film is directed by Darryl Roberts and features interviews with celebrities, fashion industry insiders, politicians, and young women who have been adversely affected by societal beauty standards.

Ted Casablanca, Hollywood insider, is one of the first individuals interviewed in the film. He talks about the prevalence of eating disorders, plastic surgeries, and the pressure placed on people to look their best in the entertainment industry. The film then moves to the American Midwest, where we meet a young woman named Gerren. She is just 12 years old and already a model with a bright career ahead of her. We witness her rise to fame, as well as her inevitable fall from grace as she becomes too tall for the industry's requirements.

Another key figure in the film is Eve Ensler, creator of The Vagina Monologues. Ensler speaks powerfully about the connection between beauty standards and the objectification of women. She poses the question, "What is it about a society that makes half its people sick in order to sell things to the other half?" This quote cuts to the core of the issues tackled in the film.

Throughout the documentary, the director offers a critical analysis of the media and the role they play in perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards. In one segment, he dissects a magazine cover featuring Paris Hilton. He shows how her already-thin body has been digitally altered to appear even thinner. The director suggests that this type of manipulation creates an unattainable standard for women to aspire to and leads to negative self-image and low self-esteem.

As the film progresses, we see young girls and women struggling with the pressure to meet these unattainable standards of beauty. They talk about their diets, cosmetic surgeries, and the negative effects these choices have had on their lives. One young woman recounts that her mother supported her when she opted for breast implants to look more like the women in fashion magazines.

In another segment, the film addresses the issue of plastic surgery, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. The director interviews women who have had multiple surgeries and complications resulting from them. One woman candidly states that she underwent multiple cosmetic procedures and spends around $50,000 a year on maintaining her looks, adding that she doesn't like to leave the house without makeup on.

The film also explores the impact of these societal messages on young boys and men. The director interviews a young man who felt pressured to conform to traditional male beauty standards, which he says led to an eating disorder and other mental health issues.

In conclusion, America the Beautiful is a powerful documentary that asks viewers to reflect on the impact of societal beauty standards. It discusses key issues such as the media manipulation of images, the objectification of women, the pressures placed on children and young adults, and the societal effects of plastic surgery. The film is an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of a complex topic and is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the impact of beauty standards on society.

America the Beautiful is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 40.