Free | Trailer Addict
Posted: 10/7/2011
Trailer for the documentary The Ride, which screened at SXSW 2010.
The idea of the cowboy and the American West is set firmly in the American psyche. Countless films have portrayed the West as a place of freedom and danger, but, above all, a place of boundless possibility. Though we may think they are a thing of the past, cowboys still exist, and the professional bull riding circuit is the one place you re guaranteed to find them. The cowboys earnest reflections on personal liberty, family struggle and the country s changing identity paint a vivid portrait of an America both at odds and in love with itself. Through the film s epic cinematography we come to understand that The Cowboy continues to embody the mythology of the American hero, though in an entirely modern way.
The Professional Bull Riders circuit is a tour of the top 45 bull riders in the world, consisting of roughly 32 stops a year around the US. The winner of the world title in Vegas also wins a million dollars, so it s safe to say this is not some little backyard rodeo. Bull riding has entered the mainstream. Droves of fans flock to the sold out arenas toting signs and banners in frenzied support of their favorite riders, making this the fastest growing sport in America. All the while the cowboys are hustling, trying to stay on their bulls, trying to make ends meet and raising hell… good ol boy style!
Beginning and ending with explosive event footage and packed with daredevil bull riding, pyrotechnics and big arena rock and roll fanfare, The Ride goes full circle as it takes through the complex lives of one compelling character to the next. The characters surprise with their gritty cowboy personas and genuine wit.