FEATURE DOCUMENTARY, 2023

The psychedelic carpets lining our hotel hallways, casinos, and convention centers can be traced to one town: Dalton, Georgia, the “Carpet Capital of the World.” In this bastion of American manufacturing we find an interwoven set of locals who are the unsung creators and developers behind the majority of the country’s carpets, always looking at the ground for their next big break. 
Among them is Roderick James, a Scottish expat and freelance textile designer living his life as a modern-day cowboy with an ambitious slew of eclectic business ventures. Through Rod’s journey chasing after The American Dream and the experiences of his peers in Dalton, CARPET COWBOYS explores the tensions between personal and national identity, and the rapidly changing global economic model of the United States that too often leaves so many behind.
Where does the myth of American identity begin and where does it end, and who ultimately gets to cash in?

Vogue’s 10 Best Documentaries 2023‍ ‍

“If Errol Morris (circa Vernon, Florida), Ricky Gervais and Christopher Guest, after a night of heavy drinking in 1990, having reckoned with the burden of the death of cinema, chipped in to make a movie together about carpets, this would be it.” Rick Alverson, Director of The Mountain, Entertainment, The Comedy

“What a gift to experience a movie exploring dreams, decay and homoeroticism through the lens of delusional ‘straight’ white men… with a healthy heap of cringe to wash it down.” TJ Martin, Oscar Winner Best Documentary 2012

Directed by Emily MacKenzie and Noah Collier

Producer Emily MacKenzie, Riel Roch Decter

Director of Photography: Noah Collier

Produced by MEMORY

REVIEWS:

VOGUE.COM‍ ‍ THE GUARDIAN ‍ ROGER & EBERT ‍ THE FILM STAGE ‍ THE MOVEABLE FEAST ‍ FILM THREAT ‍ THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE