LEAN ON PETE
UK, 2017, 121 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Plummer, Steve Buscemi, Chloe Sevigny, Travis Fimmel, Steve Zahn, Alison Elliott, Lewis Pullman.
Directed by Andrew Haigh.
In fact, Lean on Pete, is a horse. And, he is a racehorse but past his prime, one of the increasingly-fewer horses in the stable of Del, who takes his horses on circuits around rural Oregon and states beyond. Audiences who enjoy horses in films will probably take quite a shine to Lean on Pete.
But, the focus of the film is steadily on the young, rather quiet, healthy runner, Charlie, who through a series of circumstances finds himself working for Del and attached to Lean on Pete.
Charley is played by Charley Plummer (who played the Getty heir who was abducted in All the Money in the World). He is a very sympathetic presence, quite introverted, quite quiet, but still finding his way in life – which will entail a literal journey across the western states of the US.
Audiences who warm to the characters and the horses will enjoy sharing the journey – in most ways, it is quite a restrained journey, not action-packed. In fact, later in the film, when Charley’s quiet patience comes to a boil, his angry bursting out becomes something of a shock.
Charley lives with his father (Travis Fimmell), his mother having run off years earlier. He has a genial relationship with his father as well as the women who come to the house. Charley would like to find his aunt who stayed with them for a while but has since moved to Wyoming. At least, Wyoming and his aunt do give him a goal for his quest.
He comes across Del and offers to work for him, forming quite a bond with world-weary Del, a very enjoyable performance, especially with his deadpan criticisms of the life around him, by Steve Buscemi. When his father dies, Charley goes off with Del on the racing circuit, doing all the menial work with some devotion, being introduced to one of Del’s jockeys, Bonnie (Chloe Sevigny), both of them acknowledging that life is tough and that’s how it is – no attachment to the horses at the end of their career and who are destined for Mexican abattoirs.
Of course, with Lean on Pete on the list for Mexico, what else is Charley to do but to set out for Wyoming with his horse?
As with the stories of travelling across the states, there are some brief interesting and enjoyable subplots, genial families who offer food and shelter, Iraqi veterans who are also friendly, a cameo by Steve Zahn as a drinking possible helper, enabling Charley to work with a Latino company in cleaning houses, but who turns on Charley leading to the aforementioned angry outburst.
While this odyssey may seem something of a fantasy, it is also very down-to-earth, not a sentimental attachment by Charley to his horse, but an emotional reuniting with his aunt and potential security for his future.
The film was directed by Andrew Haigh who made quite an impression with his portraits of characters in Weekend and 45 Years (bringing a British perspective to this very American story).
1. The title? The horse? But Charley’s story?
2. The director and writer, a British sensibility on American characters and story?
3. The locations, Oregon, the countryside, the trek across the states to Wyoming? Homes, stables, the race circuit, diners, caravans, shops? The musical score?
4. Charley Plummer as Charley? Aged 15, the absent mother, the bond with his father, the girlfriends? Athletic, his running, his father’s encouragement? His father, taken to hospital, his death? Charley’s memories of his aunt Margey, his searching to find her? The family background, Charley and his encountering Del, the horses, offering to work, his hard work and doing all the menial and dirty work, a decent and conscientious boy, introverted? Seen at home, the television, running, quiet?
5. The contrast with Del, the tough type, his life and career, his work, the horses, the races, the circuit? Tough, appreciating Charley, paying the wages? The horses going to Mexico? Charley and the introduction to Bonnie, her story, the hard life on the racing circuit, treatment by men? Her riding and injuries? Del and Bonnie and their philosophy of that is what life is like? No sentiment?
6. Charley, his response to Del and Bonnie, to the horses? Looking after Lean on Pete, wanting to save him? The easy-going times with Del, sharing the rooms, the meals, Del’s comments about life and people?
7. The race, Charley upset, his bonding with the horses, Lean on Pete, wanting Bonnie to ride him? Her refusal? His taking the horse, driving the car, his aim, his escaping the authorities?
8. The trick, stopping for petrol, Lean on Pete getting away, Charley chasing him, walking, audience shock with the car crash and the death of Lean on Pete?
9. The various people met on the way, the homes, the families, the men and their experience in Iraq, the meal, the town, Silver and his wife, getting the job in cleaning houses, Silver turning on him, his violent outburst? His wife, her character, reactions?
10. Getting the train, arriving in Cheyenne, the phone calls, finding that his aunt worked in the library, his visit there, being reunited with her? Her feelings, regrets about the past? Talking with her, her allaying his fears, his apprehension about the police, but security and a future?
11. A film with a sense of humanity?
