Release Date: June 17, 2011 (limited)
Studio: IFC Films
Director: Cindy Meehl
Starring: Buck Brannaman
Genre: Documentary
Official Website: IFCFilms.com
Plot Summary: Winner of the Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
"Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will." So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems.
"Buck," a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his unusual approach to horses. A real-life "horse-whisperer," he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through instinct, not punishment. Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses – and people – with his understanding, compassion and respect. In this film, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life. A truly American story about an unsung hero, "Buck" is about an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary life despite tremendous odds.