#REVIEW: “DREAM HORSE”

By Mr. Will Wong

We’ve seen our share of Horse Racing movies, and not all of them hit the money. We had the joy of watching the Documentary Dark Horse at TIFF ’15 and remember being moved to tears about the story of a backyard-bred horse named Dream Alliance, who went-on to do the impossible, winning Wales’ top national steeplechase race for a syndicate of working class owners.  This live-action adaptation directed by Euros Lyn  tells the story of a woman named Jan Vokes (Toni Collette), how she sold others to buy-in on her once in a lifetime dream-come-true, and the chestnut-coloured horse she loved like a child. Even though we know how the story ends, once again, we were swept away by this fascinating journey that celebrates the spirit of believing.

DREAM HORSE captures the essence of many great Sports Dramas.  Our heroes are faced with disadvantage being everyday people involved in a sport dominated by the wealthy. The horse itself isn’t remarkable by any means. I recall as a child being a fan of his father Bien Bien (a grandson of Canada’s Northern Dancer) who raced in America, but his mother Rewbell was unproven at the track, and she died shortly after giving birth to Dream Alliance.  So there’s the fact that he was orphaned turning to a bond with his human mother instead.  Plus often in Horse Racing, it is blue-blooded horses that win the big races and glory and the horse as well is up against all odds.  Erik Wilson‘s Cinematography really takes us right into the race, where we see Dream Alliance trailing far behind the field and our excitement builds as he picks-off his opponents one by one.  Even though the races already have been run already, we still feel great anxiety whether or not he will cross the finish line first. Most importantly, key to any remarkable film in the genre is heart and soul, and DREAM HORSE certainly has plenty of that.  Collette taps right into the soul of Jan, really getting the essence of what it is that connects many horsepeople to a sport that is almost all-consuming financially, physically and emotionally.  She loves the horse, misses him when he goes off to develop into a racehorse and stresses greatly about him making it back safe every time he races. Her performance feels lived-in and with horsepeople holding a dear place in my heart, she truly feels like someone I know.

Screenwriter Neil McKay manages also to find moments of humour that lighten the mood, often drawing on the class difference between the syndicate of owners and snobbery in the industry. Though there are obstacles abound for Dream Alliance, Jan and her syndicate of owners, there is an energy of fun and worthwhileness to all the struggles they faced together, even if they don’t gain the riches they had hoped. Hence, while the Film is a Sports Drama, it also feels comedic and Lyn‘s choice to close with a musical number is a wise reminder that while there are tears, this is all uplifting.

DREAM HORSE gives us a real feel-good story we need after an extended run of rough times this past while. It premieres at the Lavazza Drive-In July 15, 2021 at 9 PM ET and opens in theatres via MK2 | Mile End August 6, 2021.

*Please ensure you exercise caution in observing COVID-19 protocols if seeing this in-theatre*.