New Showbiz

You are here:
A Cowgirl's Story

A Cowgirl's Story

2017

PG

Director

Timothy Armstrong

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Dusty Rhodes is new at Jefferson High, and she sticks out like a... well, a cowgirl. Dusty is a real cowgirl from Texas. Her parents are in the U.S. Army: her mother a helicopter pilot and her father a Special Forces Army Ranger. At first, Dusty is an outcast, but eventually she makes friends with a group that includes Savanah, a girl whose father was killed while fighting in Iraq three years earlier. Even though Savanah is kind of Goth and Dusty is all cowgirl they have a special connection and they bond. Dusty gets the school to agree to an Equestrian Drill Team and she enlists her new city slicker friends to join the team. As Dusty and the team practice, Dusty deals with the fears that come with her mother fighting in Afghanistan.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.0/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film explores a deep bond between Dusty and Savanah, bridging the gap between cowgirl and Goth subcultures. However, it lacks explicit depictions of non-heteronormative identity or romantic intimacy.

Gender Representation

Fair

Dusty demonstrates agency by leading her peers to form an Equestrian Drill Team. Despite this leadership, the narrative remains anchored to traditional family dynamics and military-centric emotional arcs.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The story centers on a demographic that appears largely homogeneous. There is no evidence of a multi-ethnic cast or intentional efforts to challenge racial norms within the high school setting.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

The narrative leans into traditional Western values, emphasizing patriotism and the stability of the military nuclear family. It prioritizes personal resilience within established societal structures over institutional critique.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The film provides no evidence regarding the inclusion of characters with physical, neurodivergent, or mental health disabilities.

Strengths

  • Dusty exhibits strong leadership and agency by establishing the Equestrian Drill Team.
  • The film successfully explores meaningful connections between characters from different subcultures.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks racial and ethnic diversity, focusing on a seemingly homogeneous cast.
  • The story reinforces traditional social hierarchies and patriotic norms rather than subverting them.
  • There is no visible representation of disability or neurodivergent characters.

AI Analysis

A Cowgirl's Story is a conventional coming-of-age tale that prioritizes themes of patriotism and social integration. While it offers character growth through friendship, it operates within a traditional framework that reinforces existing social structures rather than challenging them. The film's strength lies in its portrayal of female agency and the bridging of disparate social archetypes. However, it lacks the intersectional depth required to disrupt standard Western tropes, remaining focused on a homogeneous demographic and traditional family values.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.