“Cookie Queens”
“Cookie Queens” (91 min, Rated G – general audiences: documentary) No Rating
I usually don’t review documentaries because for one, hundreds are released yearly, and secondly, there’s only so much space reviewing commercial films, which are in the hundreds every year as well. But here’s one I accepted to review, “Cookie Queens,” an eye-opening insider’s view of the high-pressure selling of Girl Scout cookies with little girls, and their families, driven to outsell the other girls. But why? What’s in it for them other than the glory of outselling your competition?
The most obvious answer to that question is to make money. But for these adorable moppets, at least the ones chosen for this documentary, it’s the pride of accomplishment…to make your goals and flourish in the glory of beating your competition. It sounds like good training ground for these little girls to go on in life as successful businesswomen. And most of it stems from their high-strung parents, particularly the moms, some who were Girl Scouts years ago, the true architects behind the tactical sales pitches that inspire their daughters to sell, sell, sell…almost to madness.
But to me, this kind of pressure has its drawbacks. Most girls don’t take it that seriously while others essentially lose sleep over not making their quotas. Again, that comes from the parents. And at the end of the rainbow is the money earned that can go towards family trips or into the family coffers. The point I get from writer-co-producer-director Alysa Nahmias is that the more cookies the girls sell, the more empowered they feel. However, what a downer it must be if they don’t.
That’s the downside…the emotional setback of failing to make your quota…the disappointment from your parents or other family members who put faith in your salesmanship prowess. Of course, the parents, and siblings, often pitch in on the daily grind of hard sales pitches that only lasts six weeks. According to this documentary, over $800 million is generated from national cookie sales. And only $1 of a $6 box goes to the kid’s family, the rest to the Girl Scouts of America.
The five children, and their respective families, are chosen for this documentary…all adorably articulate well beyond their ages, regular cuties who candidly bring perspective to their situation with their families on deciding how many thousands of boxes they pledge to sell. They have to “buy” these cookies…they aren’t given to you. Yikes, what pressure! That’s a major point of the film, and it’s all captured in this revealing documentary…an insider’s look into the world of selling cookies as a measure of success — the burning desire to be the Cookie Queen of the country…no, the world.
Having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, “Cookie Queens” was released at select theaters on August 8, but I’m sure you’ll be able to find it on streaming platforms soon.
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