Starting July 15, the Ross will be showing "Queen to Play," a French comedy/drama starring Kevin Kline and Sandrine Bonnaire, and "Buck," a documentary about horse whisperer Buck Brannaman. There will be a movie talk on July 15 featuring Kip Fladland, a horse trainer who trained under Brannaman.
"Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will." So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems. "Buck," a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real life "horse-whisperer," he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment.Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses - and people - with his understanding, compassion and respect.
In this film, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life. A truly American story about an unsung hero, "Buck" is about an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary life despite tremendous odds. (from IFC Films) "Buck" plays at the Ross through July 28.
The Movie Talk with Kip Fladland immediately follows the 7 p.m. screening of "Buck," beginning at 8:30 p.m. July 15. Admission to the Movie Talk is free and open to the public. Admission is at regular Ross prices. The Movie Talk series is sponsored by the Friends of the Ross.
Born and raised in Montana, Kip Fladland has spent the last 27 years of his life working with and riding horses. In addition to riding horses for the public Kip has also spent a considerable amount of time cowboying on several large Montana ranches. Working for these ranches includes starting colts, educating riding horses, and then using these horses to care for and watch over the cow/calf operations. Sometimes this included up to 5000 head of mother cows, with only Kip and one other cowboy working that part of the operation. During this time in his life Kip met Buck Brannaman. After Kip had attended several of Buck’s clinics, Buck offered Kip an opportunity to work for him, and Kip graciously accepted. For the next five years Kip spent his time with Buck on the road.
In addition to training horses, Kip has a growing lists of clients for whom he conducts private clinics. He has led clinics in Illinois, Texas, California, Iowa, and Montana.
The film "Joueuse (Queen to Play)" runs July 15 through July 21. Starring Oscar winner Kevin Kline ("A Fish Called Wanda," "The Ice Storm") and the luminous Sandrine Bonnaire ("Vagabond," "La Cérémonie") square off in this stylish and sophisticated dramedy of newfound passions and mid-life triumphs, set on the postcard-perfect isle of Corsica. Lovely, repressed and quietly intelligent, French chambermaid Hélène (Bonnaire) discovers her love for chess when, one day, she comes upon a couple ("The L Word's" Jennifer Beals and "Marie Antoinette's" Dominic Gould) engaged in an intense match. This obsession with the game, much to the chagrin of her husband and teen-aged daughter, leads her to seek the clandestine tutelage of a reclusive American doctor (Kline, in his first French-speaking role) -- a liaison that radically transforms both of their lackluster lives.
Based on Bertina Henrichs' acclaimed novel La Joueuse d'echec (The Chess Player), "Queen to Play" is the auspicious feature film debut of French director and screenwriter Caroline Bottaro. (from Zeitgeist)
More details at: http://www.theross.org