The Bowmakers (2019): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2019, The Bowmakers is a documentary film directed by Ward Serrill, running about 106 minutes. “The story of the most important instrument you’ve never heard of.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. This documentary film explores the world of the bow and the extraordinary masters who make them. The bow is the Cinderella of the orchestra—the overworked and overshadowed ally to its more glamorous partners. Few people, even among lovers of classical music, think of the bow as an instrument in its own right, but players of stringed instruments see them differently. To musicians, the bow is as essential to expressing the soul of the music as the violin or cello. The film follows the journey of the “silent servant” of the music world—from the workshops of the virtuosos of the trade, to the birthplace of the bow in France, and to Brazil, home to the imperiled tree from which the world’s finest bows are made.

Who’s in it. The Bowmakers stars Charles Espey as Self, bow-maker, Paul Siefried as Self, bow-maker, Robert Morrow as Self, bow-maker and Ole Kanestrom as Self, bow-maker, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 9.0/10, The Bowmakers sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Bowmakers page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Bowmakers tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.