Educational Media Reviews Online

Sweetgrass is a pleasantly peculiar film, in terms of both its subject matter and its approach. Produced by Ilisa Barbash and recorded by her husband, Lucien Castaing-Taylor, both visual anthropologists, it’s composed of footage shot during one of the last treks to summer pasture through Montana's Absaroka-Beartooth mountains. At times bucolic and serene, and at others brutal and startling, the scenes form an intimate and detailed depiction of the journey.

The film is meant to focus on the shepherds, to portray their unique job that’s ultimately an entire way of life. We see them pitching tents in fields, awake in the night to ward off bears, and chatting with one another and with sheepdogs. However, the sheep themselves may be the film’s center, regardless of whatever other action is taking place. Even when they’re off-camera, their bleating is a constant aspect of the film’s reality and the shepherds’ jobs seem the most difficult when the camera simply pans across beautiful wilderness occupied by thousands of sheep.

Although the film offers a rare and vanishing look at shepherding in the American West, the emphasis on visual aspects over all else can be disconcerting. What dialogue there is, is sometimes inaudible or garbled and no interviews or other commentary are supplied to enhance the viewers’ understanding of whatever is happening on screen. This undoubtedly contributes to the ambiance of the film, but it also occasionally makes for a frustrating viewing experience. Where are they in the woods? Who are the children that claim to need to go home? And just how many sheep are there and why are they so incredibly noisy?

While Sweetgrass is both beautiful and mesmerizing, the minimalist presentation may make it an awkward fit for classroom use, depending on the discipline. Those situated in agricultural or animal sciences will likely find Sweetgrass interesting, but it’s much better suited for those who are able to take a humanities-oriented approach. Barbash and Castaing-Taylor were able to capture a facet of the American West at one of the very last times it was possible to do so and have created a true work of art from the material. Because of this, academic libraries are strongly recommended to include Sweetgrass in their collections.

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