Winter Nomads 2013
Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Elisabeth Garbar and Heinz Dill
Directed by Manuel von Sturler
DVD , color, 85 min.
College - General Adult
Animal Behavior
Date Entered: 03/02/2015
Reviewed by Andrew Koval, MSLSSturler’s intimate portrait of sheepherding with Pascal and his younger apprentice Carole as they engage in transhumance of the sheep amongst an often snowy landscape is an engrossing experience. The film eloquently covers Pascal’s backstory, teachable moments in the apprenticeship, bystanders met on their sojourn, and wilderness survival. The camera pans to the great expanse of rural scenery before the herd allowing the viewer to appreciate Pascal and Carole’s circumstances. Sturler may have been able to provide more information on the business end of the herding process. The film is an exercise in the orchestration of animals toward a goal. The documentary Cousin Jules (1972) is of similar content with regards to the theme of rugged individualism presented here. This film may be used as a glimpse into the marginalized vocation of sheepherding and is most appropriate for academic libraries.
Awards
- Best Documentary from European Film Academy, 2012
- Best of Fest at Amsterdam IDFA, 2012