A little over 2 years ago a movie was filmed on the ranch where my horses are pastured. Since filming was to take place inside the home and not at the barn, I didn’t think too much about it. I did, however, engage in some grumblings about the inconvenience of an imposed schedule of when I could and could not be on the ranch. I probably only remember that because of one incident, and only one, when the schedule changed without my being notified. I was there at the wrong time! I got into a bit of a squabble with the ranch caretaker who wanted to make it my fault. While I don’t look kindly on false accusations,in this case the underlying issue was my fear that I had unknowingly messed something up with the filming. I worried that my car might have cast roving sunlight beams through the windows of the house as I drove by, creating an unwanted light show at a strategic moment during the filming. I cringed as I imagined the whole room erupting in curses and wall pounding from the crew!
In the end, it didn’t happen, at least as far as I know, and apparently no one really noticed nor rolled their eyes in frustration at my being there at the wrong time. Weeks later when the film crew was packing up to leave, a coordinator of some sort appeared at the barn to give me kudos for my cooperation. The acknowledgement soothed any remaining irritation, and I went back to caring for my horses as they drove away. With a year or more ahead in editing and whatever else it takes to bring a movie together, I didn’t give it another thought.
The forgotten movie surfaced unexpectedly a few months ago. During a barn chat, Kenny, the ranch owner told me he had seen it. The movie. Oh. Right! That one! He casually mentioned that my horses were in it, as well as his chickens and guardian dog, Atticus. Because of his matter-of-fact style, it took a little time to sink in. I was surprised and pleased, cautiously, not knowing anything about the movie. However, had I known the cameras would find their way to the barn, I might have fretted and been a little more meticulous with the horses’ grooming, and would have cleaned up the growing manure pile in the paddock. But since it took place without my knowing, thankfully, I was spared the angst. Maybe some day I would see the movie for myself. In the meantime, any intrigue and curiosity wore off in a matter of days. I didn’t give it another thought.
Many weeks later, Kenny mentioned the movie again. This time he informed me that our small town but prestigious theater was showing the movie outdoors as a fundraiser on Mother’s Day weekend. There was also going to be a tour of the movie site here at the ranch on the following day. Oh. Wait! I needed to catch up with this new information. I assimilated what I could, and worked robot-like at cleaning my portion of the barn. At the last minute, it all hit me that given that my horses were in this movie, my opportunity to see it had come. I decided just a few hours before the showing that I would like to go. I asked Kenny for details. What he said stunned me. The price was $100 per ticket and had sold out within an hour! Feeling that “cold water in the face” sensation, I stood blinking, dripping, and awkwardly laughing, “Gues-s-s I won’t be attending! “
Instead, that evening at dusk, I hiked one of my favorite paths with my dog, Henii, on the coastal bluffs above the Pacific Ocean. At a certain point on the trail, it hit me that my decision to hike this particular path must have been intuitive. The trail just happened to overlook the harbor cove where the movie was going to be shown that evening. I stopped in my tracks and stood looking down the hill as cars with headlights on by now, were pulling into the parking lot one by one positioning themselves for the outdoor showing. Unbeknownst to anyone in those cars below, Henii, my bearded Airedale mix, and I, stood statue-like above, mysterious shadows watching their every move, carrying this secret that none of them knew nor, quite frankly, even cared to know. Why would they? It was my own undercover story. My horses were in that movie they were preparing to watch while they were being watched from up the hill by what became a woman and her dog as I transitioned into the observer and storyteller of my own waggish creation. I stood silently. An enchanting tickle moved through my body; fresh ocean air lightly touched my face. It was surreal.
Mother’s Day tours arrived. Guests drove into the ranch at their scheduled time and I became the self-appointed greeter for early arrivals. I felt admiration for the committed members of this rural community who would so lucratively support the theater for a small-town movie, filmed a few miles up the road. It was amazing. I inquired of one outspoken guest how he liked the movie. He responded that it deserved every award it received. Awards? I had not heard of any awards. I cocked my head questioningly trying to decide whether to expose my ignorance with my next question. Being a skeptic at heart, and not wanting to be gullible to someone’s mockery in case that was what he was doing, I warily asked if it had actually received awards. His answer was simple and succinct. Yes. End of story. He had no personal need to educate me.
I couldn’t wait to ask a fellow boarder at the ranch about possible awards since I knew she had seen the movie months before. She told me that her mother had said it received multiple Oscars. Oscars? Oh? I was impressed that this backyard movie I assumed was a short documentary had actually made it to the Academy Awards. How cool was that?! With eyebrows raised, I asked her the name of the movie. (Yes. It is true. I did not yet know the name!) I ran to my computer and typed N…o…m…a…dland and aaaaahahaha! The joke was on me!
For those of you who are not movie buffs and don’t follow the Academy Awards, Nomadland, starring Frances McDormand won 3 Oscars for best movie, best lead actress, and best director and was nominated in 3 other categories! It also won 3 Golden Globe Awards and countless others. I had no idea that the movie I was continuously brushing off was destined for such grandeur. All the time I was oblivious! But my horses knew! They saw those cameras roll in their direction. They had teased me each step of the way for the past 2 years allowing me hints while keeping mum about the secret they held.
Since successful films often have hidden symbolic and powerful icons tucked into the movie known only intimately to the crew, I like to think that my horses, even though appearing so briefly that you would miss them if you blinked, added in that moment some secret magic too. Why not?! That…is what they do.
As I reflect on the journey for myself as both storyteller and main character of my own understory, from the partial making of Nomadland here at the ranch, to the revelation of its masterful accomplishments in the end; it has been like the opening of a rose in slow motion. It started as a tightly wrapped and colorless rose bud amidst my grumblings at the ranch, then over time, gradually opened to a flower in full bloom while I was looking the other way and not giving it another thought. When I caught the fragrance, and turned to find the source, the special magic burst forth.
AFTERWORD:
I was finally able to see the Nomadland in the lovely theater mentioned above in our small coastal town. I recommend seeing it in a theater if you can. The local audience was entertained by a special Zoom Q & A with Frances McDormand who was now familiar with and connected to our small coastal community. She was delightful! Natural and authentic. What stood out to me in the interview was her description of the director and how she works. She listens to the actors’ stories and incorporates their personal lives into the character they are playing. There was no script at least in the beginning. I assume a script of some sort developed from the stories. Frances was a combination of both herself and the character she played. The part that was filmed on the Northern California Coast was the Frances part of the character. She had suggested it because in her words, “the light is so wonderful here.”
Nomadland caught a glimpse not only of my horses, but also captures a lifestyle which carries resonance for me. I am a solitary nomad at heart as well as in personal experience. I’m contemplating a blog of my experiences. Stay tuned.
About the Herd: https://themystichorsechronicle.wordpress.com/about
There is a PBS Interview with the author of the book from which the movie was taken: https://vimeo.com/
ACADEMY AND OTHER AWARDS:
https://abc.com/shows/oscars/news/winners/nomadland-wins-the-most-2021-oscars
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9770150/awards
The Mystic Horse Chronicle 
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