THE MAGIC OF ‘MISS YOU CAN DO IT’
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanIt only takes three simple words to make everything seem so much easier. “Love conquers all.” That statement became much more evident after having seen a most heartwarming documentary film.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival taking place from April 4 – April 11, 2013 debuted the world premiere of ‘Miss You Can Do It’ on Friday, April 5, 2013 at 6:45 p.m. at Muvico Parisian 30 at CityPlace in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. Making it an even more unforgettable experience was the attendance of the Director/Producer, Ron Davis who holds a special place in the hearts of Palm Beach residents. Ron’s film company, Docutainment Films, is based right in the West Palm Beach area. Prior to this current film, PAGEANT was his first feature documentary which won 10 major film festival awards before premiering on The Sundance Channel in 2010. His documentary films give audiences a candid look into the topics that many have not even thought of exploring.
‘Miss You Can Do It’ presented to us a very special lady who uses her disability to strengthen her inner perseverance. Abbey Curran is beautiful both inside and out. She was the first woman with a disability (Cerebral Palsy) to compete in the Miss Iowa USA 2008 competition and win. Although she did not win the first time that she competed, she did not easily give up.
Sharing is a huge part of Abbey’s life. Abbey gives the gift of excitement and recognition to girls as young as 4 years of age and as old as 25 years of age with the establishment of the ‘Miss You Can Do It’ Pageant which Abbey founded in 2004 for girls and women with special needs and challenges. Contestants and their families travel from around the country to participate in this event where it isn’t so much about the competition itself but more about building friendships between girls that share a common bond and giving these girls an opportunity to look forward to putting on that gorgeous party dress or gown, getting their hair and makeup done and receiving plenty of applause and attention for who they are on this magical evening, not who they are not.
This film chronicles the events leading up to one of the pageants, the activities during the pageant and finally the crowning final moment. We get to look into the personal lives of eight girls with dreams and their desire to look past their disabilities.
Abbey works extremely hard to make sure that each girl gets extraordinary treatment and coordinates everything herself from the hair and makeup services to the judges to the trophies shining large and bright. Every girl that takes part in the pageant takes home a trophy and wins some sort of award. Imagine on a day when the world just seems to be getting them down, to look over from their bed to their dresser and see that winning trophy which belongs to only them. What a feeling! Of course, there is one girl who walks away with the title of ‘Miss You Can Do It’ for the year and that girl will never be the same. The thrill can be felt throughout the entire auditorium.
Sitting there and watching the film on this particular evening, you can’t help but imagine how difficult life must be for these parents to be not only a parent but a constant caregiver. These parents that were interviewed for the film seemed to be so upbeat, optimistic, full of love and devotion and felt that there was a reason that they were blessed with a special child. You can feel the love overflowing from their hearts and their souls. It makes you realize that getting angry at minor issues is really quite petty in the scheme of life.
Ron Davis has a masterful technique to make you fall in love with each and every one of these girls. I even felt my eyes tear up not because of sadness but because of the happiness and how determined these girls were. Each of them grew from this pageant in leaps and bounds. The smiles, the laughs, the wishes, the dreams all seemed within arm’s reach thanks to Abbey Curran who brings it to girls with disabilities and special needs year after year. Thanks to Ron Davis for giving us that glimpse into their world. Thanks to Palm Beach International Film Festival for giving Ron Davis this opportunity to showcase his talent.
The film will be released on HBO in June 2013, but in the meantime, if you happen to be in the Palm Beach area on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 4:30 p.m., the film will be shown again to audiences at Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille in the Delray Marketplace at 14775 Lyons Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33446 (561) 454-8002. I highly recommend going to see this film to give you an uplifting feeling.
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