Every once in a while a film comes along that has the potential to bring together disparate audiences and reveal to them their shared values and humanity. AMONG WOLVES is one such film. Military veterans and peace activists, motorcycle enthusiasts and animal lovers -- the potential dialogue between such seemingly dissimilar groups in response to this film would undoubtedly be refreshing in our current era of discord and polarization. Roger Ebert said that "movies are like a machine that generates empathy." AMONG WOLVES indeed generates empathy, and we need more films like it.
11 Reviews
Patient observation leads to quiet rewards
randomcha-179-67821822 July 2019
The subject matter, on its face, doesn't knock my socks off. But the delicate, deliberate way that this film observes people and their environments (the way that every documentary ought to) won me over. The poetic cinematography and evocative sound design elevate it into art. Bravo.
Why wouldn't you see this film?
info-8963721 June 2018
I didn't know what to expect when I first heard about Among Wolves, but the description alone got me to Kickstart the film and put my butt in a seat to watch it- a film about a Bosnian biker gang that deals with the trials and tribulations of becoming veterans and rescue a herd of wild horses as a way of coping. Are you kidding me? Why wouldn't you see this film?
Once I actually saw the film, I was stunned. Convey's camera work is breathtaking. Every shot is deliberate and perfectly composed. I would call it symphonic. So much life happens in front of the camera, wonderful details emerge on additional viewings.
In a world wrapped in conflict these days, it's wonderful to see a film that shows that humans can sometimes be wonderful.
See this film.
Once I actually saw the film, I was stunned. Convey's camera work is breathtaking. Every shot is deliberate and perfectly composed. I would call it symphonic. So much life happens in front of the camera, wonderful details emerge on additional viewings.
In a world wrapped in conflict these days, it's wonderful to see a film that shows that humans can sometimes be wonderful.
See this film.
meditative study on humanity
shoutingagain29 August 2018
It's actually a rather basic universal premise. We have worldwide wars, veterans that have to navigate life afterwards, given no choice in the matter. Often suffering fallout of their experience but also, unfortunately, often either neglected, tossed away, or given little thought by society at large. I'd imagine they are seeking to find out "what NOW?"!
Well these men find a way to continued purpose, humanity & community as a motorcycle group basically whose objective is continued charitable good deeds. Yes, at the center of focus is assisting & caring for horses otherwise neglected & left to their own devices (no coincidence identifying much of their own fate for survival).
Plus there's a profound feeling of enlightenment, peace & calm to witness any of them among the horses they decide & seek to protect. Yes, it's quite metaphorical as they truly DO mirror the strength & endurance of not just these very men but maybe too, of those of us navigating this world, given a variety of various woes & obstacles, in all its complexities. Still yes, these horses represent, in particular, the men's towering resilience, strength, unfailing endurance & I think, dignity & nobility. They are a powerful sight to behold.
They inform us as they so choose, there is nothing manipulative or sentimental on screen here to behold. Just their unvarnished truth. Brilliant filmmaking decision; more documentaries should go that route. I saw no agenda except to tell a story, their story & in fact, get & stay out of the way, let it simply unfold. Be patient as it does, there is much reward awaiting you. Such respect to allow these men to show you their lives as they saw fit. And human they are---warts & all-- same as each one of us, no matter what our circumstance.
There are things we share just by the mere reality of being human & living life in a complicated world. That includes often confounding, debilitating war, conflict & political landscape. To me, powerful & quietly moving. Many moments can be quite subtle as life typically is. Often that is what most packs a punch. I could relate.
Lastly, it did make me want to read up more about the Bosnian war/s, the veterans, its people, its culture, its political, economic & sociological outlook for their future, its land. And thus, I did. Glad I did so, I learned much.
So yes, this documentary left me caring about not just the men (the horses! The orphanages & kids, the society!) but went well beyond its limited scope. It taught me more about an unremarkable (ah..but actually remarkable!) group, a place & persons I'd otherwise not have known. Elucidating moments I'm glad to have experienced, that I wish for others & more for myself. We all are better knowing more about each other. That is, in fact, what builds bridges instead of walls. I have no doubt there will always be pride, war---that, conflict will remain but part of the solution falls in understanding the world at large, its people in every corner of it.
The better we know our fellow man, the less likely we are to invoke violence upon them, even our own neighbors. But yeah, that might be my getting too preachy, too philosophical in general. The same mistake cannot be make of this. It was my personal take-away, perhaps your own far from that.
I struggle to properly convey that this can be a WORLD story, it's that relatable. I'm, however, glad it belongs to them as I now know more about this area & its people. The veterans in the outlying areas we hardly get glimmer of insight into. They deserve it, much as we all do. I felt privileged to know them here. Understanding can lead us a long way.
The filmmaker, I think, navigated this project wisely by again, having left this basically in their widely capable hands. Their voice, their slices of life as designed & chosen only by them alone to share with us. I see it as their film. Again, no offense or discredit to those creating it. Still l rather ingenious approach.
We all (OK, most of us!)l need purpose, to feel useful and part of something larger. That we can make a difference. And if we don't feel such way, good to see acts to inspire that motivation inside each of us.
I left there moved, grateful for this opportunity to learn of their experience. Also, highly appreciative to benefit a Q & A with the filmmaker afterward who clarified & expounded on some of the minor questions lingering in my mind. What he shared, as well as the audience's input, quite incisive bonus to my unique film experience.
Highly recommended for the discerning audience who is seeking more than routine, predictable movies that, upon further inspection, in fact, leave us little to nothing. Sadly, sometimes not even "entertained" which as a sole objective, is sadly a low bar to ascribe & measure up to.
I believe you will reflect long after viewing, what I feel anyhow, amazing men of towering, stoic strength, contemplation, camaraderie & most vitally, good-will on screen. Inspiring! How refreshing as well, in the end, it's life affirming. Transporting pain, maybe torment into something of utility & good deeds. What more can we want from others who've seen dark places?
The fact is, We ARE all in this together (this world & our communities), and to have this theme interwoven with the horses they care for--well nothing falls into place better. OH and lastly I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the the photography & cinematography. It commands you see it preferably IN a theater if at all possible. You will be glad of choosing such simple effort. All said, if that's not possible, see it in any format available to you.
They inform us as they so choose, there is nothing manipulative or sentimental on screen here to behold. Just their unvarnished truth. Brilliant filmmaking decision; more documentaries should go that route. I saw no agenda except to tell a story, their story & in fact, get & stay out of the way, let it simply unfold. Be patient as it does, there is much reward awaiting you. Such respect to allow these men to show you their lives as they saw fit. And human they are---warts & all-- same as each one of us, no matter what our circumstance.
There are things we share just by the mere reality of being human & living life in a complicated world. That includes often confounding, debilitating war, conflict & political landscape. To me, powerful & quietly moving. Many moments can be quite subtle as life typically is. Often that is what most packs a punch. I could relate.
Lastly, it did make me want to read up more about the Bosnian war/s, the veterans, its people, its culture, its political, economic & sociological outlook for their future, its land. And thus, I did. Glad I did so, I learned much.
So yes, this documentary left me caring about not just the men (the horses! The orphanages & kids, the society!) but went well beyond its limited scope. It taught me more about an unremarkable (ah..but actually remarkable!) group, a place & persons I'd otherwise not have known. Elucidating moments I'm glad to have experienced, that I wish for others & more for myself. We all are better knowing more about each other. That is, in fact, what builds bridges instead of walls. I have no doubt there will always be pride, war---that, conflict will remain but part of the solution falls in understanding the world at large, its people in every corner of it.
The better we know our fellow man, the less likely we are to invoke violence upon them, even our own neighbors. But yeah, that might be my getting too preachy, too philosophical in general. The same mistake cannot be make of this. It was my personal take-away, perhaps your own far from that.
I struggle to properly convey that this can be a WORLD story, it's that relatable. I'm, however, glad it belongs to them as I now know more about this area & its people. The veterans in the outlying areas we hardly get glimmer of insight into. They deserve it, much as we all do. I felt privileged to know them here. Understanding can lead us a long way.
The filmmaker, I think, navigated this project wisely by again, having left this basically in their widely capable hands. Their voice, their slices of life as designed & chosen only by them alone to share with us. I see it as their film. Again, no offense or discredit to those creating it. Still l rather ingenious approach.
We all (OK, most of us!)l need purpose, to feel useful and part of something larger. That we can make a difference. And if we don't feel such way, good to see acts to inspire that motivation inside each of us.
I left there moved, grateful for this opportunity to learn of their experience. Also, highly appreciative to benefit a Q & A with the filmmaker afterward who clarified & expounded on some of the minor questions lingering in my mind. What he shared, as well as the audience's input, quite incisive bonus to my unique film experience.
Highly recommended for the discerning audience who is seeking more than routine, predictable movies that, upon further inspection, in fact, leave us little to nothing. Sadly, sometimes not even "entertained" which as a sole objective, is sadly a low bar to ascribe & measure up to.
I believe you will reflect long after viewing, what I feel anyhow, amazing men of towering, stoic strength, contemplation, camaraderie & most vitally, good-will on screen. Inspiring! How refreshing as well, in the end, it's life affirming. Transporting pain, maybe torment into something of utility & good deeds. What more can we want from others who've seen dark places?
The fact is, We ARE all in this together (this world & our communities), and to have this theme interwoven with the horses they care for--well nothing falls into place better. OH and lastly I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the the photography & cinematography. It commands you see it preferably IN a theater if at all possible. You will be glad of choosing such simple effort. All said, if that's not possible, see it in any format available to you.
Beautifully shot and edited, it will pull you in
onthewing27 August 2018
One of the best documentaries I've seen...so good I went to see it twice! It follows a Bosnian motorcycle club over many years as they help each other with PTSD (the club was started by and is led by war veterans) help their struggling community, and interestingly, protect and steward a herd of wild horses that lives nearby. The cinematography is beautiful and you will be enchanted by the footage of the horses and the countryside. This film has won a bunch of awards on the festival circuit and I see why - it felt it was a subtle and moving portrayal of the dignity and humanity of these men, and looks quietly but intently into their everyday lives. Highly recommended.
Wolves, horses, men.
mzia-666065 September 2018
Several years back, I met the filmmaker and was impressed with this project--the subject matter and the dedication of Mr. Convey. Just a few nights ago, I had the chance to watch the documentary and was glad I did. It is certainly a form of documentary film different than what we commonly think of. There is no linear plot, climax, and denouement. No protagonist or antagonist. Rather, it mirrors real life, which is rarely so neatly packaged. Instead, it tells the tale of a group of Bosnian war veterans, their motorcycle club and the herd of wild horses they tend to. It touches on the scars of the past but mainly focuses on the present and its struggle. The landscape and scenery are breathtaking and somewhat erase from memory the horror of what took place there. There exists no melodrama in this picture, merely a stating of facts and the very pragmatic and yet deeply painful efforts undertaken to make life bearable and meaningful. After the running time of 114 minutes, I was able to join a question and answer session with Mr. Convey, which brought to light different subtleties captured by various audience members. I wish this film all the best and eagerly await its release for general audiences.
A Visual Tone Poem
kursedman19 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The earnest observation of this collective of former warriors and current civilians never overshadows the abiding concern this group actively demonstrates within their community and the pastoral setting that remains in the years since the horrific war gripped and altered the physical and cultural landscape. The ruminative quality of the visual and auditory presentation is happily free of the tired tailoring of judgement and message, and expands a window onto this scene that welcomes a meditative observation by the viewer without any insistence on statement or closure. This film is most highly recommended.
Could watch this over and over!
lisa-3371021 May 2019
Among Wolves is a visually stunning and heartwarming film-LOVE LOVE LOVE! Great attention to details in compositions, lighting, as well as color (the wheel barrow shot <3!)! The story is universal in feeling and makes me feel hopeful about humanity.
Loved it...
pjrider-1453224 August 2022
This documentary about a motorcycle club is not what you would expect. It's about a group of motorcyclists who have banded together after war and how their love is not only for their iron horses but also for some real flesh and blood horses. While their time spent watching over these wild creatures is really spellbinding, their love of helping neighbors is a pleasure to watch. The camera work is superb. The landscapes are beautiful and shots of the horses are mesmerizing. I've been part of the motorcycle world/culture for years and have seen bikers across the spectrum. I walked away from Convey's observation of this motorcycle club of Bosnian War veterans very much liking them and liking what they do.
Poignant and visually stunning
asklonga2 October 2019
This film is a meditative look at a subject few will ever get to see in a country that has been lost to contemporary history and is seldom understood. The combination of sweeping landscapes with raw, visceral stories of veterans will leave you mesmerized.
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