You need to make time to see The Roper from directors Ewan McNicol and Anna Sandilands. It is a moving story of a young man who is passionate about his craft without regard to stereotypes.

Kendrick is a young, black calf roper grafting through the local, all-white rodeo circuits of the southern United States. Soft spoken and gentlemanly, roping is Kendrick’s singular focus, his ‘good addiction’. He practices long into the night and is happiest when he is on the road to a competition. Before each rodeo he prays for the safety of his horse and himself, and to win a check. Ever since he was a boy he has dreamed to one day making it to the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas. This is the beginning of that story.

Before reading the press info packet, I commented that this would make a great full length documentary and was pleased that one is in the works (see quoted text from Press packet below)

We went down to Lafayette very keen to find a story inside the popular Southern pastime
of trail riding. The longstanding, predominately white traditions are becoming increasingly
more African-American, and with some very curious cultural mash ups of zydeco and hip
hop, wrangler and Sean John – all on horseback.
We were out filming with some trailriders when Kendrick drove by, with horse trailer in tow
and asked his buddies what all we were up to. Fresh off of competing in calf-roping at a local
rodeo, he unloaded his horse and joined the ride. We were immediately struck by his easy
manner, shy and gentlemanly way, and a seemingly singular drive to become a great roper.
After spending some time with Kendrick and watching him in the practice ring we knew he
was his own story. He’ll tell you himself that he has a long road to go to being great, but his
heart and determination could win anyone over.
It wasn’t until we were filming at our first rodeo that we realized we were back in a very white
world, and Kendrick was the only black person in the entire place. A man asked if we were
filming because he’s a ‘chocolate cowboy’, a term we saw as far more of an affront than
Kendrick did.
Plans are in the works to expand the film, following Kendrick to getting professional
sponsorship, and hopefully meeting his dream of one day competing at the National Rodeo
Finals in Las Vegas.

With beautiful cinematography done with a combination of on screen and voice over narration by Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn, Keith “keef” Ehrlich’s The Knife Maker displays the passion and craft of hand made goods makers.

I’ve always been big on documentaries at SXSW, and this one is right up my alley. It is all at once informative, educational, artistic, and has heart. I loved it.

Writer turned knife maker Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn talks about the human element of craft, and the potential for a skill to mature into an art. And in sharing his story, he alights on the real meaning of handmade—a movement whose riches are measured in people, not cash.

The Knife Maker is the second installment in Made by Hand, a new short film series celebrating the people who make things by hand—sustainably, locally, and with a love for their craft. Based in Brooklyn, the project takes its influence from the handmade movement here and elsewhere. It was created out of the belief that the things we collect, consume, use, and share are part of who we are as individuals.

We here at the Baby! got a special treat for Valentine’s Day, we screened the documentary ITALY LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT, which is part of the SXGlobal features at SXSW 2012.

Luca and Gustav have to decide: should they stay in Italy, or leave it, like so many of their friends have done already. Looking for reasons not to do the same, the two Italians jump into their old Fiat 500 and go on a emotional trip through their country to find out: Italy, love it, or leave it?

Directed by Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi, the film chronicles the travels of the two men as they travel throughout Italy examining the country and its issues from environmental, industrial, political, economic, and social perspectives. Along the way they discover beloved icons of Italian industry have either moved manufacturing to Romania or that the quality of life for the workers has diminished significantly. They also find rampant corruption and pollution of jaw-dropping proportions.

Along the way they also find gems of wisdom from creatives and politicians alike as to why one should stay and help to make things better rather than “running away”. It is a brave exercise, I don’t know that I would want to examine my own country so closely.

It’s a thoroughly enjoyable film, and it’s on our “must see” list. We think you should make time in your schedule to see it too.