“Glitter and Dust”, Review!

Director: Anna Koch & Julia Lemke

Anna Koch and Julia Lemke direct an interesting but frightening film. Arizona is a landscape designed for the film, of the rugged and universal, shaky orange hue. The directors put this setting to good use in the documentary "Glitter and Dust," which follows a group of young Arizona cowgirls who compete as bull riders. They often intertwine scenes of intense competition with scenes of empty landscapes, quietly suggesting the futility of wrestling's attempt to deal with this part of nature.

This is the central question of this documentary, and probably all extreme sports documentaries: what is there to lose, what is there to gain? Why do they do this? What are they following? The director's job is to uncover the untold answers hidden beneath Parrot's family tradition and ideals of expectation. It is unclear whether they ever settle on a suitable or fully realized answer, but there is a glimmer of clarity in the silent beat between parent and child, brother and sister.

In one particularly beautiful exchange Altrecia Bege practices swinging back and forth on a barrel, playing the role of a floating bull, with the camera focusing on the barrel as she and her instructor face each other against the setting sun. do in front. Considering their shared enthusiasm in the frame, we are treated to a moment of true community, a valid reason to pursue such a dangerous game. Similarly, there comes a time when Mason King plays with his friends after the match, betraying a man who pretends to be a bull wherever he wants, a mild respite.

Another benefit of story is a clear understanding of space. The bull-riding ring is presented as an almost mythical piece, bathed in harsh floodlights haunting the daily lives of these women. While the history of the sport and their long-standing closeness remain largely undeveloped, it is abundantly clear where one stands in relation to the other. Failing to detect this, young women appear to be more interested in participating in sports.

Perhaps the most compelling arc is that of nine-year-old Ariana, who aspires to be a successful bull rider. After her round in the match, the camera follows her as she takes off her cowboy boots, systematically stretches her legs, squeezes them, and checks for broken bones. Walking in the Ring is a performance, a good reminder that real life can't spin those few seconds indefinitely. “Glitter and Dust” occasionally evokes moments of grandeur, but its slanted approach keeps it from being entirely flashy.