The Story Of Nebraska Is Told In This One-Of-A-Kind Film - And You'll Want To See It
By Delana Lefevers|Published May 02, 2019
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
All too often, when we see Nebraska represented in the media, it’s in a negative or dismissive light. We tend to be depicted as backward, naive, or stuck in the past. But there’s a spectacular film that’s shattering those stereotypes and showing what life is really like on a ranch in the Sandhills – and it’s a must-see.
Nebraska native Georg Joutras lived much of his life on the outskirts of the Sandhills, yet it wasn't until 2003 that he actually spent some time getting to know the region. He fell instantly and hopelessly in love with it.
Joutras visited the McGinn ranch and was struck by the peaceful, meditative environment. The McGinns are third- and fourth-generation ranchers, stewards of this 130-year-old Sandhills cattle ranch. While getting to know the family and their way of life, Joutras was inspired to create a feature-length film about them.
Ocean of Grass is an absolutely stunning journey through a year in the life of the McGinn ranch. It's an immersive experience including the sights, sounds, and experiences of a working cattle ranch.
It's nearly impossible not to feel a sense of reverence as you watch the various trials and triumphs of the ranch and the ranchers. It's humbling to see just how much of this way of life depends on nature's whim and how everything can change in just a moment.
This touching look at Nebraska ranch life doesn't focus just on the ranch or the people who run it. Rather, it presents them as a whole, as intertwined entities that depend on one another. The ranchers are stewards of the land, and the land is their livelihood. You can see the heartache, the passion, the hard work, the serenity, and the wonderfully unique way of life in this feature-length film.
This is the first film for Georg Joutras, a lifelong photographer. He tells the story of the Sandhills with such tenderness that you would almost swear it was his own. Perhaps it did become his own story through more than a year of filming and the subsequent editing and post-production, all of which Joutras did himself. This is a true passion project, which is more than evident when you watch the film.
Ocean of Grass was officially released in 2017. Since then, Joutras has traveled to theaters all across Nebraska and beyond, hand-delivering the film and often meeting and talking with attendees. Watch the official trailer below and get a short glimpse of what it’s like to immerse yourself in the Sandhills.
For more information about Ocean of Grass, or to buy it on DVD or Blu-Ray, check out the film’s official website.
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