The Rider
SXSW Conference Film Premiere
Alamo Lamar, March 9, 2018
Review by Stacey Lovett
Chloe Zhao’s The Rider is a powerful, poetic portrayal of life’s purpose and the acceptance of the sudden loss of the means to achieve it. As she was unable to attend its premiere at SXSW due to illness, Brady Jandreau – the face and story behind the film’s protagonist – was in attendance to speak on this touching piece as well as bring light to how little resources were used in the filmmaking process – leaning on the genuine nature of the setting which lent sincerity and intimacy to the portrait of this young broken cowboy.
The Rider proved to be an authentic film about the inner turmoil surrounding this journey of acceptance and the stubbornness of heart behind the drive. Jandreau’s character endures a serious head injury which results in an extended recovery time and in turn faces death should he ever compete again. Zhao weaves the theme of fragility of life within a small South Dakota community heavily bred with the ‘cowboy up’ mentality. She spent hands-on time prior to the shoot observing and learning the rodeo cowboy lifestyle in that very community with Jandreau and others getting to know them and their stories on a personal level while researching the film, just as she did in her first film Songs My Brothers Taught Me. Her experiences translated into a deep understanding of the bonds between horse & rider and that of a man with his dream.
It is no surprise Zhao took home the Art Cinema Award with this film at Cannes -through gorgeous, pensive scenes, the film’s cinematography and score mirrors the themes of denial, loss, and desire in longing for that last ride, breaking through emotions and gaining trust in one’s self just as they do in the process of breaking the horses. Each horse in the film was remarkably broken and trained in real time on camera by Jandreau himself, his natural talents and language with the horses translated with intense shots bringing the audience into his innate ability to reign in the faith of that animal.
The strong central talent brings the authenticity to the film with Brady Jandreau & Lane Scott both acting out their autobiographical roles and this raw portrayal humanizes the trials, both of the rodeo circuit and man’s own ride through the pain, seeking passion as the sole purpose of living. Both roles brought an such an ethos to the story that dialogue in quantity was not necessary. Zhao explores the fine line between fiction and reality and by using the innate talent behind the story itself created a touching view into the often-romanticized western setting, leading viewers to not only see the beauty behind the scene but feel it too.
Written and Directed by Chloé Zhao
Starring: Brady Jandreau, Tim Jandreau, Lilly Jandreau, Lane Scott and Cat Clifford
Rated R
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