The Mustang is not an action film. It is not a Disney or a Marvel and it has no hi tech CGI effects. It is a small film about wild horses and prison inmates. At least I thought that was what it was going to be. But it is a lot more than that. This is a gritty film about life in a prison where the inmates are long term criminals who have committed brutal crimes against their fellow humans. It is about wild horses who are more than just therapists; they are the teachers and the redeemers.
The film centers around one criminal Roman Coleman , played with delicate precision by Mattias Schoenaerts, and a buckskin mustang that has been brought into the prison program where some of the inmates work with the wild horses to make them suitable for adoption. The relationship does not go smoothly and it a far cry from any horse whispering movies. It is the horse that teaches Coleman to let go and let live not the other way round.
The film’s director Laure de Clermont-Tonnere does not spare us the realities of prison life. There are some moments of violence that make this film unsuitable for small children. It is not a cute horse movie. But it has a powerful message that is well delivered. The acting is first rate and the performance of Bruce Dern as the head trainer is marvelous!
I recommend this film. It now has a general release , possibly due to Robert Redford’s role as executive producer, and if you get a chance go and see it. It’s worth it.
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