Concrete Cowboy is a coming of age story about Black cowboys, not in the wild west but in north Philadelphia. 15-year-old Cole is taken to live with his estranged father Harp, and introduced to his close-knit urban horse riding community. Cole searches for acceptance and splits time between his distant father and his childhood friend Smush, who aspires to buy a ranch out west, but goes down a dangerous path to fund his dream.

Concrete Cowboy is a great introduction for the uninitiated to the Fletcher Street cowboys - the real group of Philadelphia based horse riders fictionalized in this film - some of whom even appear in this film playing themselves. While the performances are a high point, the film’s predictable trajectory left us wanting, and a somewhat confusing ending muddies an otherwise meaningful story about the terror of gentrification.

Netflix picked this film up following its 2020 premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s also based on the novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri.

Motion Picture Palsis hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Caleb Warwick, and producer Travis Lien.

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