A New Zealand family struggles valiantly to live a simple life.

Against the isolated New Zealand mountains, Peter and Colleen Karena struggle to raise their six children on the thin edge between freedom and disaster. Peter hunts, trains wild horses, and works to instill the values of independence and courage in his children, while an escalating struggle with his own father has profound consequences for the entire Karena clan. In a precipitous existence that is equal parts glorious abandon and painful suspense, Peter and Colleen set up a series of makeshift camps while their brood of fearless kids ride bareback across the wild New Zealand landscape. Ultimately, this complete immersion in another way of life reveals that the price of freedom is well worth paying.

It is rare to be given intimate access to the inner lives of such an articulate and maverick family as the Karena’s. There is a very fine line in documentary between enabling or releasing the story as you see it and letting the protagonists tell their story. Weaving those two threads is the key. At some point it was obvious that as we were observing the Karena family, they were observing us. There is no narrative wall between you and the subject. You must not hide behind the camera. You bring all of yourself to every scene. Documentary making is not extended reportage. It is intimate storytelling.