The Rider

In select theaters
April 13^th 2018

104 minutes

English

After a tragic riding accident, young cowboy Brady (Brady Jandreau), once a rising star of the rodeo circuit, is warned that his competition days are over. Back home, Brady finds himself wondering what he has to live for when he can no longer do what gives him a sense of purpose: to ride and compete. In an attempt to regain control of his fate, Brady undertakes a search for new identity and tries to redefine his idea of what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.

starring...

Brady Jandreau

Brady Blackburn

Tim Jandreau

Wayne Blackburn

Lilly Jandreau

Lilly Blackburn

Cat Clifford

Cat Clifford

Terri Dawn Pourier

Terri Dawn Pourier

Lane Scott

Lane Scott

Director, Writer, Producer

Chloé Zhao

Cinematography

Joshua James Richards

Music

Nathan Halpern

Editing

Alex O'Flinn

Producer

Mollye Asher, Sacha Ben Harroche, Bert Hamelinck

88% on the CINEMETER

ATL

98% - Apr 15, 2018

Extraordinary meditation on the way humans negotiate a balance between freedom and limits, and how to cope if your personal negotiation between the two gets disrupted. I found the treatment of interior spaces versus the great Western landscape echoed the thematic concerns of the film perfectly. Thought-provoking, profound, moving…to me, far more successful than the Borg v. McEnroe movie.
Atlanta Member

Beautiful film. I cried at the end—the film captured so well the sense of mourning over what was lost as well as what the main character was able to give back to his friend as a result of this loss. What a kind-hearted soul he was. As an aside, what a wonderful and caring big brother he was.
Atlanta Member

This was the most incredibly beautiful and saddest movie I have ever seen.
Atlanta Member

Beautifully shot, great story—lovely to see a low-tech movie in the age of gadgets & apps & selfies. The relationships with Lane and Lilly were beautiful, as were his relationships with the horses.
Atlanta Member

Interesting story about a segment of America that most of us don’t know about. How diverse we all are. What a beautiful country we live in.

Atlanta Member

This is exactly the sort of film that gets me to renew my Cinema Club membership each semester. I am sure I never would have chosen to see this film on my own. And while it was not a perfect film, it was a damn fine one that I am so glad to have experienced. It’s one of the few times I have seen a strong benefit from the casting of non-professional actors—Florida Project being another. I loved this film. So fascinating and lovely—especially to see the affection these guys have for each other in such a masculine setting—that hug with Lane gutted me.
Atlanta Member

Gorgeous film- a glimpse of a life so alien-yet portrayed so subtly and powerfully that I entered in and understood.
Atlanta Member

STL

94% - Apr 22, 2018

Superb cinematography -- the scene felt like a Frederic Remington painting at times. Wonderful detailed scenes of horse training. Autism highlighted with sensitivity. The film reflects the desperation and desolation of life in South Dakota. . . I hope the film makes a lot of money, that will help the family.

A great movie, I loved it.

It was raw, real and full of emotion. Excellent film.
St. Louis Member

Deeply affecting celebration of present-day cowboy culture. Chloe Zhao"s screenplay and direction are spot-on perfect. Film does not mock or condescend to the riders and their horses.

Amazing footage of Brady training the horses.

A special film. I became interested in something I had no interest in.
St. Louis Member

The reality of a documentary. On my all-time best list. Oscar!

A great movie. I loved it!

St. Louis Member

St. Louis Member

MIL

94% - Apr 22, 2018

Best film in the last five seasons!
Milwaukee Member

I really appreciated the movie.
Milwaukee Member

The Rider makes you look at the Western in a whole different way.
Milwaukee Member

Poetic filming of the landscape.
Milwaukee Member

91% - Apr 15, 2018

Absolutely one of the most moving and beautiful American stories I've seen in a long time. No tired tropes or formulaic forays. Really enjoyed the ride - the whole ride!
San Francisco Member

A profoundly successful melding of making a film and living actual life (docudrama). Full of heart and much evidence of female leadership in telling a story.
San Francisco Member

Brady was a beautiful actor and compelling soul [many such compliments to Brady Jandreau as Brady Blackburn]. A little slow, but this was like taking "reality TV" to an artful level. Loved the genre.
San Francisco Member

A gorgeous and emotionally satisfying film. Lily as the the choral voice and emotional compass of the film enriched Brady's compelling narrative [many comments on how lovely Lily's character was].
San Francisco Member

A stark, moving work of cinema verité. Comparison to "Lean on Pete" is inevitable, but what makes this better is its much tighter focus: an odyssey less of physical distance than of emotional resilience. BUT - while I am glad we saw this, I have had enough equinicide for one year)
San Francisco Member

It takes forever [many comments on the slow pacing especially in the first half] - but in the end it really gets to you and draws legitimate tears.
San Francisco Member

The discussion really helped me process and see things differently, thank you.
San Francisco Member

My parents told me that I could be anything I wanted even as a girl, and they only wanted me to be happy. Now you understand why I found this film [about considering having to give up on what you love] one of the most moving films of the season - beautifully filmed and of important cultural interest. thank you for presenting.
San Francisco Member

90.4% - Apr 8, 2018

Wow, the best film I have seen this season.
Greater New Haven Member

Any time a movie leaves you exhausted and drained it has to be great.
Greater New Haven Member

Heart-wrenching, sensitive. The cinematography captured the amazing landscape. Sound-musical score was perfect.
Greater New Haven Member

The scenes with Brady and Lane absolutely made the movie for me. Alas, Brady's relationship with Lily was so beautiful.
Greater New Haven Member

BOS

90% - Apr 15, 2018

Beautifully acted and directed.
Boston Member

So brilliantly drawn!
Boston Member

A powerful expression of male emotion using very little dialogue.
Boston Member

Masterful film. Brilliantly drawn psychologically.
Boston Member

Heart-wrenching!
Boston Member

Moving! [Several times]
Boston Member

Excellent. Well-developed. A beautiful film. An introspective and thought-provoking film.
Boston Member

82% - Apr 15, 2018

I thought I would hate this film and I loved it and was engrossed throughout. A culture I was not at all familiar with, but learned a lot. People who are only capable of doing one thing in life.
Washington, DC Member

My first thought was, oh god, not another horse movie, but it sucked me in. The horse training sequences were fantastic – giving an authenticity you rarely see on screen.
Washington, DC Member

I found a lot of the movie so tedious, but then all of a sudden, I got it. The incredible acting, the sadness of the actors (especially the lead), the story of resilience and joy, the incredible scenery and animals – and then the discovery that it was for the most part real.
Washington, DC Member

We (audience) did not give enough credit to the horse/human relationship. The director did an awesome job of demonstrating the spiritual power of animals – especially horses – in the lives of humans.
Washington, DC Member

Heartbreaking, sad, beautiful. This movie spoke to me in a very personal way. The fragile strength and power of horses and the trust between horses and riders was wonderfully shown. Having grown up around horses, rodeos, horse shows, horse trainers and traders, this movie spoke to me in a very special way.
Washington, DC Member

BOCA

64% - Apr 8, 2018

Beautiful scenery which the cinematographer did a great job capturing!
Boca Raton Member

Learned alot about a culture I knew nothing about...which is part of what movies are about for me! (Many expressed similar thoughts.)
Boca Raton Member

Incredibly moving, sensitive, tragic and heroic!
Boca Raton Member

A strong drama which could break your heart!
Boca Raton Member

Don't know if Brody can be nominated for an Oscar for acting since he's not a professional but he certainly deserves one!
Boca Raton Member

Sony Pictures Classics