Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life

Plot

Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life documents the extraordinary annual migration of the Bakhtiari tribe in Persia (modern-day Iran) as they lead 50,000 people and half a million animals across treacherous terrain to reach summer pastures. The film follows the tribe's perilous journey across the Karun River, where they must construct makeshift bridges of inflated goat skins to guide their herds across the raging waters. The migration continues through snow-covered mountain passes at 12,000 feet elevation, where the tribe faces avalanches, freezing temperatures, and starvation. Directors Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, along with journalist Marguerite Harrison, embedded themselves with the tribe, participating in the migration to capture authentic footage of this ancient tradition. The documentary culminates with the tribe's arrival at the green pastures, celebrating their survival and the continuation of their nomadic way of life.

Historical Background

The film was produced during the golden age of silent cinema and the early years of documentary filmmaking, when ethnographic films were gaining popularity in Western countries. The 1920s saw increased Western interest in 'exotic' cultures and distant lands, partly fueled by post-World War I disillusionment and a search for more 'authentic' ways of life. Persia was undergoing significant political changes during this period, transitioning from the Qajar dynasty to Reza Shah's modernization efforts, which would soon impact traditional nomadic lifestyles. The film captured a way of life that was already beginning to disappear due to modernization and changing political boundaries. The expedition also occurred during a time of American expansion in international filmmaking, with Hollywood studios increasingly funding location-based productions to offer audiences authentic experiences they couldn't get from studio sets.

Making Of

The making of 'Grass' was as perilous as the migration it documented. Cooper, Schoedsack, and Harrison spent months preparing for the expedition, learning Persian and studying Bakhtiari customs. They gained access to the tribe through connections with the Persian government and had to prove they could endure the journey. The filmmakers participated fully in tribal life, eating the same food, sleeping in the same conditions, and sharing the dangers of the migration. During the famous river crossing scene, Schoedsack nearly drowned when his inflatable goat skin raft capsized, and Cooper had to rescue him while keeping the camera safe. The editing process took nearly a year in New York, where they had to piece together footage shot under extreme conditions with limited ability to review takes. The film's success led to a commission from Paramount for their next documentary, 'Chang' (1927), which further established their reputation as adventure documentarians.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'Grass' was revolutionary for its time, employing techniques rarely seen in documentary filmmaking of the 1920s. Ernest B. Schoedsack served as principal cinematographer, using hand-cranked cameras that had to be manually operated while riding horses or climbing mountains. The film features remarkable long shots of the massive migration, with thousands of people and animals stretching across vast landscapes. The river crossing sequences were particularly innovative, with cameras positioned both on shore and in the water to capture the drama from multiple angles. The filmmakers used natural lighting to dramatic effect, especially in mountain scenes where the harsh sunlight created stark contrasts. Wide shots emphasized the scale of the migration, while close-ups captured individual human emotions during moments of crisis. The camera work often appears shaky and imperfect by modern standards, but this adds to the authenticity and immediacy of the viewing experience. The cinematography successfully conveys both the epic scale of the journey and the intimate human moments within it.

Innovations

'Grass' pioneered numerous technical innovations in documentary filmmaking. The production developed specialized camera housing to protect equipment from extreme weather conditions, including waterproof casings for river crossings and insulated covers for mountain filming. The filmmakers created custom camera mounts that could be attached to horses and pack animals, allowing for mobile shots while traversing difficult terrain. They developed techniques for filming in low light conditions at high altitudes, where standard film stocks often failed. The production team created portable developing labs to process footage on location, ensuring they could review takes and reshoot if necessary. The film's editing techniques were innovative for documentaries of the era, using cross-cutting between different groups of migrants to build tension and create narrative flow. The sound recording techniques, while limited by silent film technology, included detailed notes on ambient sounds that would later influence synchronized sound documentaries. The production's success in filming under extreme conditions proved that documentaries could be made in the most challenging environments, expanding the possibilities for future non-fiction filmmaking.

Music

As a silent film, 'Grass' was originally accompanied by live musical performances during theatrical screenings. The score was typically performed by theater organists or small orchestras, with music ranging from classical pieces to original compositions. Paramount Pictures suggested musical cues for different scenes, recommending dramatic classical works for the crossing scenes and more pastoral music for the arrival at the pastures. Some theaters used Persian-inspired music to enhance the exotic atmosphere, though authentic Persian music was rarely used. Modern restorations have included newly composed scores, with the most notable being a 1998 version by the Alloy Orchestra, which created a soundtrack using both traditional instruments and found objects to mirror the resourcefulness of the Bakhtiari people. The Criterion Collection release includes a score by Rodney Sauer that attempts to blend period-appropriate music with Middle Eastern influences. The absence of synchronized sound actually enhances the documentary's authenticity, as the natural sounds of the migration - animal calls, rushing water, human voices - are left to the viewer's imagination.

Memorable Scenes

• The dramatic crossing of the Karun River, where the Bakhtiari construct bridges from inflated goat skins and guide thousands of animals across the raging waters while risking their own lives
• The mountain pass ascent, filmed at 12,000 feet elevation, showing the tribe struggling through blizzard conditions with their animals
• The arrival at the summer pastures, where the exhausted tribe celebrates their successful journey with music and dancing
• The morning departure scene, showing the massive scale of the migration as thousands of people and animals begin their journey
• The night camping sequence, illuminated by torchlight and campfires, capturing the intimate moments of tribal life

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised 'Grass' as a groundbreaking achievement in documentary filmmaking. The New York Times hailed it as 'one of the most remarkable films ever produced' and 'a triumph of the documentary art.' Variety called it 'an epic of human endurance' and praised its 'authenticity and dramatic power.' Modern critics have re-evaluated the film through contemporary lenses, acknowledging its technical achievements while questioning its ethnographic approach and potential romanticization of its subjects. The Criterion Collection describes it as 'a landmark of documentary cinema' that 'captures the raw beauty and brutal reality of nomadic life.' Film historians consistently rank it among the most important early documentaries, noting its influence on both documentary and adventure filmmaking. The film's reputation has grown over time, with many considering it ahead of its time in its immersive approach to documentary storytelling.

What Audiences Thought

Initial audience response was enthusiastic, with viewers fascinated by the exotic locations and the dramatic journey depicted. The film performed well in major cities where audiences were hungry for authentic adventure stories from distant lands. Many viewers were shocked by the harsh conditions depicted, with some questioning whether the footage was staged or genuine. The film developed a cult following among adventure enthusiasts and travel documentary fans throughout the 1920s and 1930s. In later decades, as interest in classic cinema grew, the film found new audiences among film students, historians, and documentary enthusiasts. Modern audiences often express both admiration for the filmmaking courage and discomfort with the colonial perspective. The film continues to be shown at film festivals and classic cinema revivals, where it typically draws appreciative crowds interested in early documentary history and ethnographic filmmaking.

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