After suffering a near fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.
The ability to ride defines a man’s worth in Brady’s world. Though riding and horses are never far from his thoughts, Brady now spends his days working at the local supermarket and his nights drinking with his buddies. With his mother gone and a father who drinks and gambles, he finds himself responsible for his 15-year-old sister, Lilly. With a limited education, it seems that the fastest way towards money and local fame come by way of the rodeo, but injury and even death could follow..
In her follow-up feature film to Songs My Brother Taught Me, Director Chloé Zhao once again uses her unique neo-realist style that treads the line between documentary and drama, with untrained actors playing characters similar to themselves, and using events from their real lives to base her script on. Winner of 15 international awards including trophies at Hamburg and Cannes.
“Once The Rider hooks you – and believe me, it will – there’s no way you will ever forget it.” – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
