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Deep Dive: Sweetgrass (2009)

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Sweetgrass
Sweetgrass is a documentary that follows modern-day shepherds leading their sheep into the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains of Montana for summer pasture. Directed by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and produced by Ilisa Barbash, the film captures the lives of Norwegian-American sheepherders, who are among the last to trail their flocks long distances through the mountains. The title comes from Sweet Grass County, one of the filming locations. Filming began in 2001 and took eight years to complete, culminating in a premiere at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival. The film has been recognized for its aesthetic minimalism, featuring no music or narration, and has received critical acclaim, including a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 80 on Metacritic. It was also a New York Times Critic's Pick and a Washington Post Critic's Pick.

Why Watch

  • •Watch the last sheepherders in Montana's Absaroka-Beartooth mountains.
  • •See the film praised as an anthropological work of art.
  • •Find out why it was a New York Times Critic's Pick.

Did You Know

•Filming began in spring 2001 and took 8 years to complete.
•The film premiered at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival.
•Sweetgrass received the Big Sky Artistic Excellence Award in Montana.
•It holds a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Perfect For

Documentary enthusiastsFans of visual anthropologySheep farming history