Educational Media Reviews Online

The Bowmakers is a film that delves into a world of artisans whose craft is revered by those in the know, but largely forgotten to the general public. The result is an illuminating documentary that provides historical and contemporary overviews of a fascinating corner of the music world.

Director Ward Serrill introduces audiences to some of the world’s top bowmakers but at the center of the documentary is Charles Espey, who trained many of the other craftspeople profiled in the film. Espey’s workspace is like a time capsule to the beginnings of the artform. The process is shot intimately with closeups of centuries old tools shaving and forming the wood. Each craftsperson’s hands are shown delicately and precisely handling their works. The resulting bows are then put in the hands of expert musicians who give first-hand accounts of how these preciously crafted objects are a crucial part of the sound they make with their instruments.

The film is steeped in an appreciation for music but there is also a focus on how humans interact with nature in artful but also harmful ways. In one sequence, Espey ponders on the effects of the industrial revolution and its ensuing impact on everyone's ability to be self-sufficient. It’s an interesting consideration and something that carries a different contextual weight amid a pandemic. There is also a discussion regarding the exploitation of the pau-brazil tree (namesake for the country) in order to harvest it for dyes and bow making that highlights the cost of this artform.

The Bowmakers is a great film that shows a centuries old trade that continues to proliferate generation by generation. This movie could be a great addition to a music history or performance course.

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