Following in the footsteps of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood (2014) but with a western documentary approach, The Cowboy follows young Crowley over a decade, from his early days as a lass on a ranch near his family’s home to adulthood, when he works as a rider across the state. He must learn to face hardship while grappling with the inherited shadow of alcoholism in an oppressive and conservative Midwestern American setting.
The documentary presents a complete portrait of his family over the years: a hermetic father unable to heal, acting as an uncomfortable mirror for Crowley; and a mother who carries the family and, almost like an oracle, warns of the possible future that awaits her son should he follow in his father’s footsteps. Through intimate interviews and close access to the work, The Cowboy touched audiences’ hearts at the most recent edition of the Locarno Festival.
Credits
Year: 2025
Runtime: 90′
Country: USA, Germany
Direction: Andre Hörmann
Screenplay: Andre Hörmann
Cinematography: Tom Bergmann
Subtitles: Jaume Pérez Massó, Eduard Bartoll Teixidor
Genre: Documentary
Contact: Telekult
Wins & nominations
2025 | Locarno Film Festival
