Buck

The horseman is a classic American archetype, and at first glance Buck Brannaman, the title character of this outstanding documentary, fits the icon to a tee. Steady and taciturn, Brannaman travels the country training horses using a non-violent method. However, he often has to figure the owners out first, as they can be more jumpy than the horses. As this warm and intimate character study progresses, we learn more about the rest of his life, from his work on Robert Redford’s The Horse Whisperer to long-held family secrets, all of which deepen our understanding of why the cornerstone of his approach is to never hurt a horse.