A troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife runs off with his trans son into the Montana wilderness after his ex-wife’s refusal to let their son live as his authentic self.
Dusting off the genre’s spurs, writer/director Anna Kerrigan explores contemporary American themes in her uniquely modern western, “Cowboys.” She blends rugged adventure, family dynamics, and trans identity into a small but wide-ranging story. Filmed and set in Montana, the mountains constantly appear ensnared by low-hanging clouds. The score comprised of whistling melodies, horse-trot percussion, and guitar riffs emulate Ennio Morricone’s classic work on Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns.
With the best of intentions, Troy (Steve Zahn) absconds with his trans son Joe (Sasha Knight) to give the child a fresh start. They steal his friend Spottedbird’s (Gary Farmer) horse and head for the Canadian border. Joe’s mother, Sally (Jillian Bell) is distraught over the situation and unaccepting of her son’s transition. Through flashbacks, the screenplay and editing gracefully capture the tumultuous life for the family dealing with Troy’s fragile mental health, Joe’s questioning of his identity, and Sally’s attempts at being the best mother she knows how to be.
The story makes national news and Detective Faith (Ann Dowd) is on the case. More intellectual than her fellow police officers, she understands the situation in its complexity. The media names Joe by referring to his birth name – a recurring issue in real life as outlets misusing pronouns and identification in obituaries or reports.
Steve Zahn consistently picks interesting roles and he’s superb here with an expansive performance and natural chemistry with co-star Knight. It’s rare to see Jillian Bell in a dramatic film and she nails the role, proving to be more than just a comedic actor. Her character is frustrating, not a villain, and she plays it wonderfully.
While there’s plenty of touching scenes that are beautifully filmed, one of my favorites is Joe’s epiphany in a bowling alley. After feeling awestruck by the masculine men dressed in rugged denim and huge belt buckles, Joe realizes he no longer wants to identify as a girl. The subject matter isn’t light but Kerrigan keeps the pace appropriately tragic and comedic such as life can be. Representation matters and I think this film could help heal and educate.
In Virtual Cinemas and on VOD Friday, February 12th
