Score: B
Director: Christopher LaMarca
Cast: Dana Kristal, Zachary Jasper Miller, Michael Moss
Running Time: 75 Minutes
Rated: NR
With his directorial debut, Christopher LaMarca shines with Boone, an unplugged look at the harsh realities of goat farming in Oregon. This documentary is a true Kaleidoscope of events that culminate the life of few goat farmers and gives us a fly on the wall experience into their lives, and more importantly their goats.
Boone is a truly unique documentary and shies away from conventional storytelling, instead opting for an avant-garde approach, ala a stripped down performance that would make Old MacDonald jealous.
All that is required is a camera, talent and a compelling story, which can easily be juxtaposed with the essence of farming; going back to your roots. What makes this documentary different is that it doesn’t explain, sway or introduce anyone in the film; it simply thrusts the viewer into the world of agriculture, allowing them to discover the trials and tribulations of raising farm animals for themselves.
It’s refreshing to see this old school mentality with this youthful group of farmers; they only need their hands, heart and some old fashioned tools to hold down the fort. They don’t complain when the going gets tough; in fact they welcome the challenge, knowing that success only tells a fraction of the story. Failure is what makes them stay humble; in essence you don’t pick farming, farming picks you.
While the film features a short runtime of just seventy-five minutes, it only takes a few seconds for us to fully discover the circle of life as we witness a goat’s birth and death mere moments apart. It’s chilling to see the calm demeanor of the farmers as they refuse to get too high when the going is good, knowing full well that things always have a way of leveling out over time.
This film shows us that farming is a dying art. Seasons change but the song remains the same. One unexpected drought or one bad season and a farmer can loose everything. The physical and mental toll of the job is mind boggling, and Boone paints a picture that is both authentic and thought provoking.
