Is there still a place for nomadic shepherds in twenty-first century Europe, specifically the mountainous areas near the metropolis of Milan? The Last Shepherd provides an imaginative and surprisingly complex answer to this question. Defying historic prejudices and social clichés, shepherd Renato Zuchelli is on a mission to explain both the beauties and difficulties of the pastoral life. Marco Bonfanti’s whimsical and exquisitely composed film examines several contemporary issues, such as the way the recent economic crisis has affected European families, the disappearance of traditional farming, and the increasing disconnect between urban and rural environments. The shepherd’s assistant, who has an imaginary dog, and Renato’s practical and devoted wife, as well as his four children, number among the memorable characters. The climactic scene of the film, in which 700 sheep are herded into Milan’s Piazza del Duomo, is a beautiful, if unsanitary, depiction of the bucolic that resonates far beyond the city center.  AM