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Buck is a richly textured documentary
that traces the life of Buck Brannaman, the man who inspired Nicolas
Evans'
novel, The Horse whisperer. The novel
would in turn, captivate and inspire Robert Redford into making his
acclaimed
film by the same title, in 1998. Brannaman would be invited by Redford
to work
as a consultant on The Horse Whisperer.
The Horse Whisperer
may be the stuff of Hollywood legends, but the cowboy behind the novel,
Redford's film, and now Buck the
documentary, is very real. Brannaman is a master horseman, raconteur
and
philosopher, who travels nine months of the year across the United
States and
the world to share with others his unique skills, and hard-won wisdom,
that's
often more about human relationships than about horses. As he explains,
"often, instead of helping people with horse problems, I'm helping
horses
with people problems".
Buck follows Brannaman from a
painful childhood to his inspiring work as a horse trainer. His near
magical
abilities are apparent, as he transforms horses and people with his
deep understanding,
compassion, and respect for human dignity. These qualities become even
more
extraordinary when we delve into Brannaman's troubled childhood.
Running away
from his violent father, he would eventually find a safe haven with a
loving
foster family. Refusing
to go through life as a victim, he would turn it around by totally
rejecting fear,
cruelty, and intimidation. Instead, he redeems himself by creating
bonds of
trust, tolerance, and empathy. Brannaman often compares redirecting the
minds
and energy of troubled horses with the trials of raising children. This
follows
from Brennaman's long-held belief that "your horse is a mirror to your
soul".
The
extraordinary strength of character that sustained and helped Brannaman
transcend the darkness of his unhappy childhood is poignantly reflected
in his
close and loving relationships with both his step mother, and his
daughter. Reata
is an accomplished rider and roper in her own right, and she often
trains and
attends riding competitions with her celebrated father. Brannaman's
work means
he's often away from his family. Travelling alone in his horse trailer,
he
would go from one sold-out clinic to another across the country,
dealing with
troubled horses, and frequently, troubled humans.
Director
Cindy Meehl has done a brilliant job in bringing the character of Buck
to life;
turning more than 300 hours of film into 88 minutes must have been
quite a
challenge. As well, there is great
camera work by cinematographers Guys Mossman and Luke Geissbuhler that
captures
the beauty of the American West (mostly shot around Idaho, Montana, and
Texas). David
Robbins' score complements and enhances the film's atmosphere and
beauty. Buck is an extraordinary film; one that
you will long remember. There are so many lessons that could be learned
from it.
It is truly inspirational; a real triumph of the human spirit.
Recommended
viewing.
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