THE DARK HORSE
New Zealand, 2014, 110 minutes, Colour.
Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, Kirk Torrance, James Napier Robertson.
Directed by James Napier Robertson.
The Dark Horse is an impressive film from New Zealand. It stars Cliff Curtis as Genesis Potino, who is seen initially talking to himself in the rain, attracted to a shop, to the chess board. He has suffered from mental disturbance throughout his life, with flashbacks to his early childhood and his friendships, his being taken to an institution.
The film details his life in the institution and his need for medication, it also shows him in Gisborne and his interest in chess.
The film spends some time in establishing the chess setting, the playing of the game. But it also shows Genesis and his interaction with young people, the response to chess, hostile at first, practising, becoming champions, going to New Zealand championship performances. Genesis tries hard to contain himself while his youngsters play – and there is quite some emotional excitement as we watch the various matches, the losses and the final victory.
The film is a tribute to Genesis Potiino and a reminder that so many people have extraordinary talents inside them but need encouragement and opportunities for those talents to bear fruit.
20 years earlier Cliff Curtis appeared in a villainous role in Once Were Warriors. His career continued in New Zealand with such films as The Whale Rider but he also had a substantial international career.
1. The title? Reference to Genesis Potino, his chess career? His support of the Eastern Knights?
2. New Zealand settings, New Zealand story? Gisborne, the town, the streets, homes, the hut for playing chess, the monument? The sea setting? Auckland, the chess tournament? The musical score?
3. The focus on chess, the attraction, chess in itself, the needed skills, the moves, the players taking notes? The tournaments, rivalries and competitiveness? The possibilities for redemption?
4. Genesis’ story, the flashbacks to the two little boys, their later history? Genesis in the rain, talking to himself, his psychological state, attracted to the shop, to the chess board? His being persuaded and taken to the institution? Life there? The importance of his medication? His contacting his friend, being released, staying in the house, the friend and his reluctance, yet the bonds of the past? Putting Genesis in his son’s room? The son and his reaction? 4.30 in the morning, waking up his friend, talking, the possibilities for playing chess? Help young people? The need for stability? The meeting with the young people, the introduction, the bonding, each getting a personal chess piece, the cross-section of young people and Genesis’ interactions with them, boys and girls, parents, the supervisor? Genesis teaching the young people and their picking up the chess moves quickly?
5. Genesis in himself, his talking, the pills, the hallucination of blood in the mirror, his ambitions and achievement in chess, interactions with Mana, the news of his father dying, wanting to go to the tournament, Mana not willing, yet going?
6. Going to Auckland, the range of games, Genesis’ shouting and unable to contain himself, his being rebuked? The young people playing, the many losses and reactions, shaking hands, angry outbursts? Man and playing, losing? Michael, his skills, nerves, Genesis being ousted, the atmosphere? And Eastern Knights with the yellow T-shirts?
7. Genesis outside, Michael winning, joy for the gourp? Mana’s further arriving, the clash, taking his son? The group’s return?
8. Genesis coming to the party, Mana, his being bashed, his injured eye, his father’s brutality, yet his is being terminally ill? The arrival of the elder, confronting the father, the father letting his son go?
9. Genesis, driving into the future?
10. The final credits, the details about Genesis’ life, the years of helping young people, his achievement despite his bipolar condition? His death in 2009? Fine tribute and performance by Curtis?.
