War Horse, 2011

War Horse, 2011
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis


Stage: Home theatre.


War horse in short: Dartmoor,1914: To his wife's dismay farmer Narracott buys a thoroughbred horse rather than a plough animal but his teenaged son Albert trains the horse and calls him Joey,the two becoming inseparable. When his harvest fails the farmer has to sell Joey to the British cavalry and he is shipped to France where,after a disastrous offensive he is captured by the Germans and changes hands twice more before he is found,caught in the barbed wire in No Man's Land four years later and freed,due to a bizarre truce. He is returned behind British lines where Albert,now a private,has been temporarily blinded by gas but still recognises his beloved Joey. However as the Armistice is declared Joey is set to be auctioned off. After all they have been through will Albert and Joey return home together?



Preps: One of the hot ones at the movies, got some recommendations and am anxious to see it.



Reality: This must be one of the more touching movies I have seen in a while. I cannot remember crying like this from Lassie, or some similar movies.
In any case, the scenery is fascinating. Is UK really that beautiful? I need to see it desperately! The beginning of the movie is harsh and realistic. They really didn't have money to get through life and couldn't afford anything. Still, this beautiful horse comes in the story as the fresh mint in your breath. Gives energy to that family and makes miracles. Miraclous horse, they say. Agree. I am a fan of animals, not really horses per se, but you fall in love with this one, when seeing this piece. You need to love this horse and Spielberg took care of the bond somewhere in the beginning of the movie.
By the way, the movie starts off with the most beautiful music, probably carefully chosen for this piece and it follows us within the movie all the way. Love it!!
Also, the novel that was the base for this piece, is written by a young novelist Michael Morpungo. Spielgerg got excited with the piece, in 2007 it had a theatre screening and he was figuring out how to get this piece on true screen. Now, in the real style of Finding Private Ryan, a good remake of this spectacle.

The main drive with the movie in my eyes, is the feeling of the horse. I got my eyes wet every time I saw torture of the horses, being dragged into a war. Especially this stallion and his black friend. I am not really a fan of scenes like this, but I am realistic also and know that millions of horses died while people were fighting for any kind of cause in the WW. It stroke me several times with the ruthness the sides in WW had and the cruelty they have shown towards all, people and animals.

One of the best scenes is saving Joey from the front, being caught by a nasty fighting fence. While two soldiers from opposite sides (english and german) cut the fence from a horse, they almost get friendly. A sad story. A lot of people were dragged into the war without them wanting it. In this piece, a lot of young warriors are shown, with terrified fearful look in their eyes, before they go to fight. They need to go, other way they will be shot. Terrible. This is not human. And yet, I understand, this is the way it was.

The story of this brave horse is a breath taking one, wrapping your love and heart into a bundle and if you are a softy as I am, it will definitely make you cry. I loved it, I deeply recommend it.


My personal grade: 9,0 (beautiful, just beautiful. I would cut down the scenes from the battle, but this is merely personal. Without them it wouldn't be so real and harsh. I can only applaude to Spielberg).


War Horse on IMDB