Sonaggios

After watching this entrancing documentary, the next time you hear Christopher Walken shout “More cowbell!” in that classic SNL sketch, your thoughts will inevitably lead to Sardinia. There, in Tonara, two families continue the tradition of handcrafting the item. The name “cowbell” is a bit of a misnomer. The bells most often decorate the necks of sheep, providing music for the shepherd as well as a way to locate strays. A discerning shepherd can even identify a sheep by the sound of its bell. Aware that theirs are the last shops standing in a town that used to be rife with them, the families seek to widen their customer base through online sales, social media, and identifying other uses for the bells. They also decide to work together to ensure the survival of their craft. Pietro Mereu’s film is a delight, full of musical sheep and artisans’ passion. —Pam Grady