Our Mother The Mountain

Our Mother The Mountain Review

 When I think of cowboys, I think of Hollywood blockbusters, of young arrogant men galloping on horses and shooting pistols, but this is no longer the truth. Our Mother The Mountainfollows a handful of men who still call themselves cowboys – real cowboys, not what they describe as “drug-store cowboys”. Each man is a unique character but all of them are men you feel sympathy for. It is hard to see them still working the land, even in their old age, alone. Their isolation is felt through the camera as we watch them talk to themselves, their dogs, and mostly their cows. These men have no one.

The film reflects these men: like them its pace is slow, but constantly engaging. There is a real feeling of peace in the cinematography of the film, as if the connection to the land these men have is passed down through the camera. But what makes this film so solemn is the knowledge that these men are dying, and with them, their profession. Something so iconic in American history will be lost forever and handed over to those who farm for money. When these men are gone so is their connection to the land they farm, a bond far more powerful than expected, and their knowledge of the land’s history – specifically Native American history. I highly recommend this film as it is a very moving piece, filled with beauty no matter how bittersweet.

Written by Saskia Welch