“An extraordinary, deeply human account of a life lived on the margins, PURE GRIT is at once tender and tough, an ode to individual courage and a powerful, clear-eyed portrait of a lesser-seen America.”

Colm Bairéad, Writer & Director (The Quiet Girl/ An Cailín Ciúin)

PURE GRIT is a magnificent documentary which does the job it should - it teaches us about the humanity we don’t recognise. I wept, I raged, I was enchanted. The lesbian hero who is a cowgirl, Sharmaine, is fierce and vulnerable. Wherever this film plays, rush to see it.

Miriam Margolyes, BAFTA-winning actress

PURE GRIT is hypnotic, deeply moving and so beautifully made. Sharmaine and her family will stay with me for a very long time.

Lenny Abrahamson, Director (Room, Normal People)

“PURE GRIT takes us on a heartfelt journey…a story about Native resilience and the power of love, tradition and family”

The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Centre.

“Tells a beautiful story about life, love and Indian relay racing, with all its ups and downs and how in the end the most important journey a person will make is into themselves” Northern Arapaho Tribal Council

The Irish Times

‘ A beautiful, moving documentary … perfectly soundtracked. ‘

Screen Daily

‘ A poignant study of the challenges and triumphs of lives lived on the fringes. ’

The Sunday World ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘An intimate tale of hope’

The Guardian review ⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Mesmerising”

View of The Arts review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

PURE GRIT is a thrilling and intimate tale of extreme bareback horse racing, young love and hope when all seems lost.

Filmed over three years, Pure Grit chronicles the life of Sharmaine, a ten time Native American bareback horse racing champion as she navigates the highs and lows of life on and off the reservation. PURE GRIT is an exhilarating and deeply affecting film about life, love and the challenges of growing up on the harsh but magnificent Wind River reservation in Wyoming.

Produced by Rachel Lysaght for Underground Films in association with Frontline Films. With the support of Screen Ireland.

Filmed & directed by Kim Bartley

Sound- Colm O’Meara

Edited by Paul Mullen

Exec producers:

Taylor Sheridan, Daryl R Begay, Elizabeth Bell, Spiral pictures, Geraldine East, Patricia Planck, Stephen Kelliher, Sophie Green.

Score by Kevin Murphy (Blindstitch music) & Stephen Shannon (Strand music) with tracks by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, A Tribe Called Red, Lankum, The Mysterines and Peter Broderick.

⭐️ Winner BEST DOCUMENTARY Galway Film Fleadh 2021.

⭐️ Winner Best Editing Newport Beach Film Festival 2021.

⭐️ Nominated Best Documentary IFTA Awards 2021.