Cowboy… for most people, the term conjures images of a distant and mythical West, of dusty Main Streets, saloons, lonely campfires, and six-shooters. For some, the word is a job, a vocation, a way of life that has endured for centuries and persists even in the era of cell phones, iPods, and Twitter.
Originally filmed for IMAX, Ride Around the World traces the history of the cowboy culture across centuries and borders from sixth century Morocco to modern day Texas and British Columbia. Stunning footage captures the grace and power of the horse, and the grandeur of the working ranges of global cowboys.
As with most IMAX productions, the gorgeous cinematography will be the draw for most viewers. As someone who works regularly with “real” cowboys, I was somewhat put off by the romanticized image of cowboy culture. The rewards of ranch life – open range, a life lived with the seasons, independence, partnership with an incredible athlete – are portrayed fully. However, the gritty realities of the intense physical labor, dirt, long hours, harsh climates, and risk that those who work cattle face daily were glossed over. In a world where fewer and fewer people connect to the origins of their meals, a documentary that downplays the efforts of those who raise our food does a disservice to society.
An early scene set on the legendary Four Sixes Ranch in Texas shows the start of a cattle drive. The scene ends with two of the cowboys racing their horses out across the plain. At this point, a friend who worked beef cattle throughout her teens and twenties and I looked at each other and simultaneously rolled our eyes. No cowboy is likely to exhaust or risk injury to his horse by galloping across open ground at the beginning of what will be a long day. He or she will need the strength, stamina, and agility of that horse for the real work.
However, once the movie progressed beyond this obviously staged scene, we were captivated. Ride Around the World skillfully charts the evolution of the modern Western cowboy from the mounted Berber warriors of medieval Morocco to the gauchos of Spain across the Atlantic to the vaqueros of Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. The Mexican vaqueros followed the herds of wild cattle north into the land that would become Texas. From Texas, cowboys spread to the west and north.
.jpg?t=20120209092158)
Article comments