Unbranded

Unbranded is a captivating and thought-provoking documentary from 2015, featured on Amazon Addon. This epic journey unravels itself in over 105 minutes, giving viewers a unique blend of adventure, nature, and social commentary. This riveting tale follows four ambitious and daring young friends on an unprecedented and audacious journey through the treacherous, stunning, and largely untamed American West. The central characters are horsemen who have set an incredible challenge for themselves that will test their courage, adaptability, and determination.

The friends aim to ride wild mustangs they've adopted from the Bureau of Land Management, commencing their journey in Mexico and setting their gaze north, all the way to Canada. Over the course of the documentary, they traverse over 3000 miles, a setting that allows for breathtaking visual grandeur, panoramic views of the American West, and heart-stopping encounters within nature's unpredictability. Their gauntlet runs through unforgiving desert landscapes, snow-capped mountain ranges, and dense, wild forests.

Unbranded is much more than a powerful story of adventure and bonding. It delves deep into the complex, divisive, and emotionally-charged issue of wild horse management in the United States. The narrative provides a platform for diverse voices, including ranchers, environmentalists, historians, and government officials, who share differing opinions on the subject. The filmmakers bring forth a rich exploration of the history and politics of America's wild Mustang population, providing viewers with a cogent analysis of the issues affecting these horses and their coexistence with humans.

The four friends in this documentary don't just ride their horses, they form unbreakable bonds with them. Interspersed with their journey are scenes showcasing their relationship with the mustangs, nurturing them from being relatively wild to dependable travel companions. There are moments of joy and connection, as well as heartache and tension. Central to the film is the meld of man and horse, a theme that has underpinned many a Western narrative, but here finds a fresh, contemporary twist.

One of the documentary's crowning glories is its stunning cinematography. The filmmakers masterfully capture the majesty of the American West, its raw beauty and savage wilderness, alongside the intimacy of the relationship between the young men and their horses. The horses too, in their nobility and sometimes wild unpredictability, are a fitting metaphor for the land through which they journey. Their daunting journey takes viewers through verdant valleys, over formidable mountain passes, and across stark desert plains in some of the most inaccessible parts of the country. This film is not just a feast for the eyes, but a mental and emotional stimulus that will inspire and challenge many viewers.

Inspiration for Unbranded came from Ben Masters, a central character in the story who wanted to inspire adoptions of the 50,000 wild horses living in holding pens in the West. The film aims to draw attention to the issue through an unfiltered and unbiased lens, inviting the audience on their marathon journey. It engrosses viewers in a way few documentaries do, driving them to look deeper into the discussed issues, provoking thought, curiosity, and empathy.

Unbranded is a true tale; an odyssey packed with adventure, grit, and the human spirit as it goes against the grandeur of Mother Nature. Humorous, heart-wrenching, and beautiful by turns, the film gets to the heart of friendship, trust and sheer human determination in the face of adversities. The quintessential challenge of the young horsemen is something that will inspire and provoke viewers in equal measure, stirring conversations about conservation, friendship, and the future of the wild West.

In conclusion, Unbranded is a documentary that combines adventure and a social cause with breath-taking visuals and compelling storytelling. It blurs the line between man and beast, betwixt civilization and the wild, creating an unforgettable viewing experience that resonates far beyond the end credits. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, adventure lover, or someone interested in social and environmental issues, Unbranded will offer you a unique perspective, a deep-dive into a riveting journey, and a fresh take on the epic American West.