Chicken People is a heart-warming documentary movie that takes the audience on a fascinating journey into the world of competitive poultry showmanship. Released on September 23, 2016, the movie explores the lives of a few Kentucky chicken breeders preparing their prized birds for the intense competition at the Ohio National Poultry Show. Directed by Nicole Lucas Haimes, the film features several contestants as they attempt to groom and train their feathered friends for the ultimate showdown.
Betty, Bob, and Brian Caraker are three of the featured contestants, who are shown obsessively grooming their chickens and preparing them for the competition. Betty Caraker, a former high school math teacher, is a veteran show person who has been competing for decades. She handles her favorite chicken breed, the Rhode Island Reds, with great care and dedication, and has won numerous awards over the years. In the movie, we see her struggling with a new rooster, whom she believes has the potential to be a champion.
Bob and Brian Caraker are award-winning breeders of the Sussex chicken breed. They own a chicken farm in Ohio and have a ion for breeding chickens that conform to the standards of the American Poultry Association. In the movie, they are shown meticulously grooming their chickens, polishing their feathers, and painting their combs and wattles to give them a polished look. They are determined to win the top prize in the Ohio National Poultry Show, and they spare no effort in ensuring that their chickens are ready for the competition.
The movie follows the three competitors as they make their way to the Ohio National Poultry Show, where they meet other poultry enthusiasts, including judges, breeders, and other competitors. The event is the ultimate showdown for chicken show people, and the atmosphere is electric with anticipation and excitement.
As the competition gets underway, we see the contestants nervously presenting their chickens to the judges, who inspect every aspect of the birds, from their feathers and combs to their legs and feet. The judges use a complex system of point scoring to determine the winners, and the competition is intense, with many surprises along the way.
In addition to showcasing the lives of these ionate chicken breeders, the movie also delves into the history and culture of competitive poultry showmanship. We learn about the origins of the chicken breeds, and the ways in which breeders have worked over the years to create the perfect chicken. We see the dedication and ion that drives these breeders to devote their entire lives to raising chickens, and the sense of community that exists among them.
Overall, Chicken People is a delightful and entertaining look at a world that most of us know little about. The movie is filled with humor, drama, and suspense, and is sure to leave audiences with a newfound appreciation for these fascinating birds and the people who show them. Whether you are a poultry enthusiast or not, this movie is definitely worth watching, as it offers a unique glimpse into a subculture that is sure to capture your heart.
Chicken People is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 81.