Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life (1925)

"Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life" is a riveting silent-era documentary that unfolds the raw and relentless struggles of the Bakhtiari tribe, inhabitants of Southern Persia (Iran). The film immerses us into the tribe's awe-inspiring journey as they shepherd 50,000 individuals and a massive herd of livestock through treacherous mountain passes and formidable rivers. Braving the harshest of weather, the tribe members, audaciously barefoot, ascend snow-clad peaks and traverse tumultuous water bodies, driven by the urgent need to reach the verdant grazing lands before starvation claims their animals. This visual symphony, with its poetically beautiful cinematography, captures the tribe's hardscrabble existence, magnifying the unyielding resilience of human spirit against seemingly insurmountable odds. "Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life" doesn't just document a journey; it offers an intimate window into a life of perilous nomadic survival, and the breathtaking fortitude that sustains it. Prepare to be captivated by the greatest testament to human endurance in the silent documentary era.

Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life is a documentary movie featuring Merian C. Cooper.

Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life on Kino Now.