- Welcome to Independent Lens.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
The Kentucky Derby is the oldest
continually-held sporting event in America.
It's full of tradition, glamor, old money, and equestrian grace.
Even though it only lasts about two minutes,
that two minutes are what some call
the most exciting in all of sports.
Behind the scenes, however, there is a different story.
A story of immigrants who log long hours
in sometimes dangerous working conditions.
Tonight's film is Backside: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing.
The buildup to this frantic two-minute annual spectacle
includes meticulous, thankless, low-paying, gritty work
that happens year-round, and for some, seven days a week.
Groomers and hot walkers are the main characters
in tonight's film.
That is what those who tend to these prized horses
are referred to.
They are the resilient laborers
who take pride in their difficult work.
They often wake up and eat breakfast
before 2 o'clock in the morning to start their day.
These hardworking, diligent workers
feed, groom, hoof, and calm these horses,
doing everything in their power
to make sure they are healthy come race day.
They are the unsung heroes
who often develop a unique bond with these heralded animals.
Tonight's documentary also shows what life is like
in this community when the long workday is over.
Activities like karaoke, bowling, rodeos,
and English classes are just some of the backside fun
that helps take their minds off backbreaking work.
Related or not, they are family, and for many of them,
this is their first opportunity to work in the United States.
New to America, they hope that working in the stable
will one day make them more stable.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
These migrant workers look at this opportunity
as the first step toward the American dream,
an American dream juxtaposed with the difference in class
that revolves around those attending The Kentucky Derby.
Backside is directed by Raśl Paz-Pastrana,
who makes his feature-length documentary directorial debut.
For such a big moment in his career,
he decided to use a cinematographer
he could trust... so he shot the film himself.
Paz-Pastrana definitely has a style
and did not feel pressure to follow typical norms
when it comes to documentary filmmaking.
There is no narrator in the film,
and Paz-Pastrana does not use talking heads,
horse racing or horse care experts,
or interviews with horse owners.
There is no archival footage either,
not even a word when it comes to showing clips
from the history of this famous race.
Instead, the director lets us see his characters in action
as they work and interact with the horses
so viewers can see what these passionate laborers do.
To capture his story, Paz-Pastrana surrounded himself
with an entirely Hispanic filmmaking team.
The doc took over five years to make,
thanks to Paz-Pastrana's meticulous style.
The director says his story is an ode to migrant workers
who do thankless work, but work that is crucial
to keep America functional,
showing just how necessary immigrants are
to our way of life.
So, sit back and saddle up in your favorite chair.
Backside: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing
starts now on PBS Wisconsin, your home for independent film.