Customer Reviews

Sweetgrass

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

An ethnographic study of a vanishing way of life, Sweetgrass follows some of the last modern-day cowboys as they herd sheep into the beautiful Absaroka-Beartooth mountains. The film is an astonishing document, that recalls Merian Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack's Grass: A Nation's Battle For Life for its epochal scope, its subtle humor, and its profound depiction of the passing of a lifestyle.

The opening shots depict sheep in wintry pastures, barely standing out against the snow, the sounds of bleating and bell and the white overwhelm the senses. We see a single sheep, in a medium shot, bleating loudly, and then she turns to face the camera in silence. It is a strange moment, and an intriguing choice for a documentary film where the filmmakers seem barely present since its subjects - the sheep and the men and women who tend them - appear almost oblivious to the camera throughout, with rare exceptions such as in this opening shot where the subject of the film breaks the fourth wall, and stares at the camera. A defiant gaze.

The film demands some patience initially, but there is a highly satisfying payoff. The filmmakers work in a tradition of ethnographic filmmaking, attempting to capture a way of life without commentary, so that there is no voiceover, no explanation other than what can be observed. There is no human voice for the first several minutes of the film, and the first human voice we hear is of a farmer making peeping noises as she carries a baby lamb in order to encourage its mother to follow her. The most extended speech is a tirade filled with invectives, of a tired and discouraged shepherd who later complains to his mother via satellite phone that he would rather love these mountains than come to hate them.

The film, which was shot digitally but then blown up to 35mm film for its theatrical release, is quite beautiful; occasionally its digital origins show in the sweeping vistas that lack some of the nuance, depth, and detail of true film, but the patience of the filmmakers and their care and attention in framing images and capturing the difficult reality of the mountain trek, more than makes up for it. Highly recommended.

This movie is an absolute work of art. Defying all the norms of documentary film-making, Sweetgrass lets the story unfold on it's own terms. No narrative, no quick cuts, no being lead by the nose from plot point to plot point, yet the film has pathos, humor, drama, artistry, and lots of reality. John Ahern is the real Marlboro man not the Hollywood version we've been taught to believe. THis is one of my favorite movies ever. I will say however, that it is not for everyone. It is subtle and moves in real time and I'm sure will leave many if not most people scratching their heads. Just as most people don't like the art in museums, or classical music, or jazz, or modern dance, most people will probably not like this movie. Too bad. BUt that's life.

I can't believe the amount of whining here from many reviewers! We don't live out on a ranch, but we have had sheep for years and I have also worked around cowboys in my younger days. What I saw in this movie was the reality of working around livestock, which can be very aggrevating at times, and sometimes dangerous. Sheep do not just walk up, sit down and say "shear me please."!! They don't necessarily like their "person" being handled and they can and do jump, kick and struggle. You can get kicked or knocked down. Once the shearer sets them up, then they relax for the most part. And you try shearing that many sheep, doing it so carefully that there isn't a nick on them and you will be there for a month! This is a business and the idea is to make a living. As unpleasant as it is to dock tails, I thought they did it very nicely with a tool that docked and cauterized at the same time, as I used to see them dock tails and just let the blood run until it stopped, and while some didn't bleed much, others did.

They marked each ewe and lamb with a number so they could easily see who belonged to whom, and when you have that many ewes lambing in a short period of time, with any number of problems, like orphan lambs and birthing dificulties, you have to move quickly and do your best to solve things as you go along. There isn't always time to be gentle, warm and fuzzy about it.

Also it was filmed as a real experience with all the warts, not as some cleaned-up fantasy! The beginning showed an honest portrait of the sheep. It was a beautiful beginning. How could you feel anything for the sheep if you complained about this introductory footage? They have their moments. After that, sometimes it WAS dark. Sometimes there was chaos in the dark, as when scaring away the mama bear and her cubs. Sometimes stock dogs aren't perfect. I was a bit surprised at the Pyrenees guard dogs polishing off the dead sheep, as it didn't seem a very good thing to do, but other than that I thought it beautifully done and am considering buying a dvd.

I watched this documentary last night, and all I have to say is 'amazing'! I cannot believe the negative comments on here...This documentary is raw and pure...no stunt doubles, no CGI or fancy computer graphics. Yes, there were night scenes, but this wasn't shot in a movie set, the only available light was from the moon...extra lighting isn't something you have room for on horseback 150 miles from no where! I guess people as so used to 'Reality TV' that they no longer know what reality is! There wasn't a film crew flying in McDonalds for lunch!
The only thing I do wish they had included in the video was the extra information available on the website.
Please go to sweetgrassthemovie.com to read some background...especially notes from Ilisa Barbash about the cameraman "When Lucien got down from the mountains that fall, he was unrecognizable ¨C bearded beyond belief, 20 lbs lighter, carrying a ton of footage, and limping. He would later be diagnosed with trauma©\induced advanced degenerative arthritis, caused by carrying the equipment day and night, and need double foot surgery".
Yeah, I have all the respect in the world for these shepherds...I have had livestock for over 30 years, and know I couldn't do what they do! You want to do some extreme sports...sign up for Sweetgrass!

Sweetgrass is a beautifully created film that gives a rare look into the lives of these sheep breeders and herders. And while I found the rough treatment of the animals difficult to watch, I am glad to now have a better understanding of this occupation.

Well, a tough one. I know just a little about sheep from having helped my father-in-law out a bit with his small flock of 40 or so many years ago. And this documentary does an excellent job of showing just how cussed they can be, even while looking pure as angels. But that angelic look is really just vacancy, until they get it in their fool heads to wander into thickly brushed steep areas where it is just about impossible to get them out. And that, as Sweetgrass amply documents, happens regularly. Sweetgrass also is very good on the ranchers' frustration with them. Another plus -- the Montana landscape is spectacular. And, of course, you do mourn the passing of this way of life.

For all that, though, there are problems -- not a lot happens, these guys are laconic, but we get that early on, so a bit more narrative drive would have been appreciated -- by this viewer at least. Also, as others have pointed out, much of the film is shot in darkness or near darkness, making it very difficult sometimes to see what is happening. In one scene, for example, it appears that some of the dogs are eating a dead sheep, which, if the case, should have gotten them immediately shot. Once they get that taste, they're useless for anything but wanting more of it.

So my wife and I had mixed emotions, but Sam, our Westie, who is a big TV fan, watched it enthralled and occasionally barking from start to finish.

This is one of the most beautifully photographed movies I have ever seen. I loved listening to the sheep bleeting & baaing & then the silence when they went to sleep at night. Parts of the film reminded me of "Brokeback Mountain". The realness of the lives these people led. These are real people not actors in a movie. There are some unexpected surprises in this film, "aah" moments. Also I would recommend "American Cowboy" on the Planet Green channel on tv.

Not your usual documentary, but just as good as any other. Shows the real life these people had to deal with in the rugged country, I've spent time in those mountains and they are very unpredictable but breathtaking. No words or subtitles, just raw footage, but done in a fitting way. I enjoyed this movie.

This documentary is not going to please everyone. Some animal lovers will find it alarming how the sheep are treated. Others will not like the language. I find everything very authentic in this film and that is the cusp of what the documentary attempts to bring to the viewers. Anyone that has spent time on a farm (more than a visit) knows that animals are not always treated perfectly and that the people that work on farms can be a bit rough around the edges. There is no narrator to tell you what is going on. It is simply for you to decide and take in what you are viewing. And the shots of the sheep coming down the mountain are amazing. I cringed as the cowboys shot at the bears but this is a documentary and it is designed to document a part of US history for better or worse. I think it is very unique and worth watching. It is like turning the clock back 100 years (minus some modern inventions like cell phones, electric shears, and ATVs). It's a by-gone era and rightfully so but that doesn't mean the film is not worth while.

This movie kept our attention the whole time, in spite of not being clear what was going on and the lack of any narrative or meaningful dialog... possibly since we were always trying to figure out what was going on. Without explantions and information, or a sense of time and distance, I wouldn't have thought I would like it, but it does work. There's a lot of stunning scenery and some amazing shots and zooms that by themselves are works of art; it's most compelling as a visual experience.

The DVD we watched included a repeat with commentary by the filmmakers, which was somewhat helpful, but not really like documentaries I'm more familiar with.