BUCK

US, 2011, 88 minutes, Colour
Buck Brannaman, Robert Redford.
Directed by Cindy Meehl.

This is a most amiable documentary, all the more surprising because of the early hard life of its central character, Buck Brannaman. Buck is a horse trainer, one of the inspirations for The Horse Whisperer, and a consultant for that film.

Easygoing would be another word to describe the experience of watching Buck in action and learning about his story. First-time director, Cindy Meehl, obviously became an enthusiast as she went around after Buck to what he calls his ‘clinics’. These are sessions with a variety of clients (mostly in states like Montana, Wyoming or Texas) who want to learn how to handle their horses better and more humanely. This is what Buck is very good at. It is fascinating to see him communicate quietly with the horses, give them some leeway with the reins, touch them gently with cloths so that they are not afraid.

Actually, Buck makes comparisons with the development of children in his comments on how the horses react and overcome their apprehensions and fears.

Which is important for Buck. He and his brother, Smokie, travelled the west at rodeos and other events when they were young children, doing rope tricks. They worked with their father who was a hard taskmaster and used to beat them physically. When their mother died, they were taken into foster care and Buck has good memories of Mr Shirley and is in touch with Mrs Shirley (who tells a joke during the final credits – which hosts a gallery of photos). There is not much mention of Smokie and what happened to him after he grew up, something we wonder about.

Friends and clients are warm in their telling of their experience with Buck. Particularly genial is Robert Redford who recounts his experiences with Buck in the filming of The Horse Whisperer, with Buck talking amusingly about the stunt horses who couldn’t do their stunts whereas his untrained horse, with his guiding, finished a delicate scene with Scarlett Johansson in 20 minutes.

We see Buck’s family, though he is on his travels around the west for most of the year, his wife accompanying him sometimes, his daughter doing her training with her father.

This is a very pleasing and hopeful portrait of a genial man.

1. An amiable documentary? Buck Brannaman as an amiable person and personality?

2. The nature of the interviews, the focus on the people being interviewed, not the interviewer? The footage of Buck’s activities, horse clinics? A portrait rather than a life story? His philosophy of life emerging? A human man coming out of harsh experiences of childhood?

3. Buck and his home in Montana, the ranches? The variety of towns in the western states, Texas? Buck as a contemporary cowboy? A western man?

4. The immediate impression of Buck at the film’s opening, as a man, his age, experience, his way with horses, treatment, the rapport with people, the response of his clients?

5. His skill with the horses, horses with people problems (rather than people with horse problems)?

6. The scenes of Buck in action, his knowing horses, his likening them to children, their fears, need of reassurance, the need for touch, for the loose hold? Seeing it visually with the horses? The contrast with his own upbringing as a child?

7. The offering of the horse clinic as a model for humans? For bringing up children?

8. The episode of the horse-whisperer, his being one of the inspirations? Robert Redford and his being interviewed, his genial comments about Buck? Praise of him and his skills? The scenes with Scarlett Johansson and the horse? Buck’s own comments about stunt horses and ordinary training of his own horses and their ability to do the scene quickly?

9. Buck’s wife, long marriage, love, sometimes accompanying him, preferring to stay at home? The bond between husband and wife despite his absences? His daughter, her friend, working with the group, participation in the clinic, the travel, developing the skills?

10. Buck’s own story, his devoted mother and his love for her, her death? The pictures of his father, a cruel man, the beatings of his brother and himself? The interview with the sheriff, taking Buck into custody? Taking him to the Shirley family? Their fostering, the father and his training, the gift of the glove and Buck cherishing it? His brother and their work together? On the circuit, their rope tricks? The photos of the brothers – but no comment about the brother during the film itself?

11. The range of friends and their stories, the clients and their testimonies? Mrs Shirley and her being with Buck, her comments? Her final joke in the credits?

12. The final credits and the range of photos, supplementing the film?

13. An American way of life, American skills – and the way that this was communicated to the audience?