By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: lisa Barbash | Lucien Castaing-Taylor
Country: france, united_kingdom, united_states
Year: 2010
Running time: 101
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517252/
Jeff says: “If you’re going to make a terrific cinematic work of cultural anthropology, you have to slow it way, way down, give the viewer lots of long, long, often static shots that convey the feel and the rhythms of a particular way of life. SWEETGRASS documents a year in the life of the last working sheep ranch in Montana. It is stunningly well-done, with photography to match the majestic landscape, and sound editing that puts the sheep calls right up front in the mix, even when the sheep are two miles away across a canyon. There is no soundtrack or narration, just bleats, rushing wind, birdsong, and unassuming conversation between laconic cowboys. And those long, establishing shots, of a just-sheared sheep skittering across the snow, a lady ranch hand coaxing a jumpy mother into a pen with her newborn, colicky lamb, a cowboy leaned up against a tree and snoring. 5 cats, noms for sound and cinematography.
“Contains shots of a bear-chewed carcass and dogs being the carnivores that they are.”