ROMANCE OF A HORSE THIEF

US/France/Yugoslavia, 1971, 101 minutes, Colour.
Yul Brynner, Oliver Tobias, Jane Birkin, Lanie Kazan, Eli Wallach, David Opatashu.
Directed by Abraham Polonsky, Fedor Hanzekovic.

Romance of a Horse Thief comes from central Europe at the end of the 19th century. The setting is Poland, the focus is on the Jews, the Russian overlords, persecution – leading to much migration to western Europe as well as to the United States.

The film is an action adventure mixed with the social concerns. It was directed by Abraham Polonsky who was blacklisted in the Mc Carthyist era. He had made the boxing film, Body and Soul with John Garfield. He was not to film in Hollywood until the late 60s with Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here.

The film has an international cast led by Yul Brynner in his ethnic mode. British Oliver Tobias is the lead and there is support from Lainie Kazan – playing her variation on Jewish mother style.

In some ways a slight entertainment – action surface but with strong social themes beneath.

1. The indications of the title, comic treatment, ballad style? Did the film illustrate the title?

2. The importance of colour, turn of the century middle European style, locations in atmosphere? The European music?

3. How well did the film illustrate the atmosphere of the town, the Poles and their way of life, the Russians as overlords, the oppression, the atmosphere of war, the stealing and trading of horses, the horses taken for Russian wars? The picture of the various groups in the society of the town? The need for revolution? The atmosphere of early 20th century migration?

4. How well was all of this dramatized? Were these themes explored or merely presented? How real did they seem? How romantic?

5. The central character of Zanvill? The horse thief of the title? His place in the town, his work as a trader and thief? His relationship with his father, with Kifke? His skill in buying and selling, for instance with the businessman, the countess? His love for Naomi? His skill at the Tsar's birthday celebrations? His Involvement with Naomi and the pamphlets? The decision to migrate and its effect? His scheme with his father? His role in the rescue of the horses? The happiness and sadness of the finale? How good a hero for this film?

6. The character of Kifke and his personality, his role as a horse thief? His relationship to Estuscha?

9. The picture of Kradnik and his status in the town? Friendship with Kifke? Love for his son? Helping him in the final rescue?

10. Naomi and her Paris background, well educated, her relationship with Sigmund and his revolutionary ideas? Naomi's arrival in the train, with the car, the humiliation of Sigmund? The distribution of the pamphlets, imprisonment, rescue? The happy ending for her despite exile?

9. The detailed picture of the townspeople?

10. Stoloff and his style? His romance as a Russian commander in the village? His pomposity? His being tricked? The finale and his double-think to save his reputation?

11. Themes of prejudice and class struggle? How well illustrated in the light of Russian experience?

12. The comic aspects of the finale, the tragic elements with the Jews fleeing? Stoloff's self? glorification?

13. The film as a presentation of the Jews and their plight?

14. How slight an entertainment was this? How much of value did it explore in its comic style?