RIDE LIKE A GIRL
Australia, 2019, 98 minutes, Colour.
Teresa Palmer, Sam Neill, Stevie Payne, Sullivan Stapleton, Summer North, Magda Szubanski, Genevieve Morris, Aaron Glennane, Mick Molloy, Shane Bourne.
Directed by Rachel Griffiths.
On the first Tuesday in November 2015, Australians were astonished as they watched the Melbourne Cup perhaps cheering on the non-favourite, Prince of Penzance, being written by a young jockey, Michelle Payne. And they won. As a prominent Australian politician might say “how good is that!�.
So, this is the story of Michelle Payne and the Payne family. The screenplay is written by prominent writer, Andrew Knight, and actress and television writer and director, Elise Mc Credie. And, there is empathy with Michelle Payne and her story from the director, Rachel Griffiths.
The point is that most of the audience knows that Michelle Payne wins so there is no mystery to be solved – rather, the story is to show how Michelle Payne achieved her victory.
The Payne family came from near Ballarat in western Victoria, a family of 10 children, their mother dying and leaving the upbringing of the children to her husband, Patrick. And, they can be a rowdy, sometimes unruly lot, with scenes of mealtimes and some chaos, shared rooms, friendships and rivalries, especially as each of them moves to working in the racing industry, some as jockeys, others in training. The special trainer is one of the younger sons, Stevie, with Downs Syndrome. In fact, Stevie plays himself in the film, quite smart and with some witty remarks, having the opportunity to relive some of his life on screen.
Michelle is the youngest and her father refers to her for years as “little girl�. She accompanies her father in the care of the horses, listens to his wisdom about how to read the softness and hardness of a racecourse, how to manoeuvre when gaps open between horses during a race and to take advantage and move to the front. At first, Michelle is played quite effectively by Summer North, She is then played by Teresa Palmer, always an attractive, sometimes quite feisty, screen presence. And, it is always a pleasure to see Sam Neill on screen, although we are surprised to find how stubborn he becomes in his fixed ideas about his daughter’s life and career. She leaves, no longer wanting to be or to be called ‘little girl’.
The film shows us quite a number of the Victorian racecourses, sometimes with Michelle waiting outside the trainers’ (all men) box, asking for a job is with horses but being ignored. She had raced in some local events (always coming last) but is determined to be a successful jockey. As might be expected, we watch her get some opportunities, not merit the hostility from some of the jockeys, her being relegated to small rooms with “Female Jockey� on the door. She does get some chances but has a severe fall, spending time in coma, physiotherapy, and eventually getting on a horse again.
The last part of the film shows her bonding with a special horse, Prince of Penzance, a horse who also gains the affection of Stevie, and brother and sister worked together. Despite some wariness and opposition, especially after she is reported to the stewards for interference and is suspended, she does get their call for the Melbourne Cup and, as they say and as we see in the film, the rest is history. (And some scenes with the real Michelle, along with Stevie himself, at the end of the race and her famous comment about the men who had been hostile to her, that they could get stuffed.)
So, while celebrating the “Female Jockey�, her intense determination and ambition, her achievement, this is a very popular kind of entertainment for Australian audiences and, one hopes, racing enthusiasts beyond Australia.
1. A true story? Story of the family, Australian racing? And Stevie Payne playing himself?
2. The sports entertainment, the traditions of films about racing, the focus on horses, the focus on jockeys and trainers, family?
3. The Victorian countryside, the family home on the property, the paddocks, the horses? The variety of racecourses? The filming of the races – extreme close-up of cameras with the horses? The musical score?
4. Audiences and interest in racing? Issues of cruelty to horses/not?
5. The Payne family, Australian, from Ballarat, Victoria’s western districts? The large family, the Irish Catholic background, the scenes at Mass, at the schools, the parish priest, the nuns, the wedding, the wedding reception? The Catholic ethos?
6. The death of the mother, the photo, her memory? Patrick Payne and his bringing up the children by himself? His relationship with each of them? Patriarchal? Their jobs and chores? Their interest in racing, jockeys, training? Michelle as the youngest? Not knowing her mother? Her bonding with Stevie, Downs Syndrome? The sequences at home, the rooms and sharing, interactions, mucking around, the meals? Stevie and Michelle eating the pudding under the table? The children supporting each other? The father?
7. Stevie Payne, his playing himself, Downs Syndrome, his being intelligent and smart, his lines, portraying actions that he had taken part in? Growing up, the bond with Michelle? The horses? His work in the stables, his talent with horses?
8. The introduction to Michelle riding, the audience knowing the ending? The focus of interest on how she achieved her win?
9. Michelle as a child, relationship with the other siblings, her special relationship with Stevie? Her father calling her Little Girl, her accepting this, eventually reacting?
10. The other members of the family, their careers with horses, riding, training? Bridget, her death?
11. The Catholic tone, the priest, the homily at Mass, the jokes about racing? At Brigid�s funeral? At the wedding reception, cheerful, dancing?
12. Michelle at school, the nun worried about her health, talking with Patrick, catching Michelle in the toilets listening to the races?
13. The scenes of training, her father’s advice, the hardness and softness of the course, walking the course, waiting for the gap between the horses taking advantage? Her riding the local races, her always coming last?
14. The clash with Patrick, his love for his children, managing them, yet dogmatic and stubborn? Her leaving, going to Caulfield, waiting for rides, the men in the club, no jobs for her? Looking for opportunities? Joan, her place with the family, Patrick asking her to help, her phone calls not successful at managing, at the races, taking advantage of the opportunities, shopping for the wedding dress, Michelle accepting the races, changing her clothes, driving to the wedding? The father ignoring her? The reception and his announcement with pride about Stevie?
15. Racing, her fall, in a coma, the range of therapy, her father’s presence? Suggesting they have relevant questions to test her intelligence? At home, getting on the horse again and writing?
16. Darren Weir, his horse, support of Michelle, his team, their opposition? The training, her appreciating Prince of Penzance, Stevie support? On the beach?
17. Broken bones, falls, time passing, the important win, the criticism of the jockeys, the hearing, her being suspended, angry?
18. The prospects for the Melbourne Cup, the owners and their discussions, Michelle demanding? Getting the okay?
19. The drama of the ride, the win, the sisters presents, the nuns and their bet, her father watching?
20. The success, her achievement, going back home, with her father?
21. The final photos – and the famous “they can get stuffed�, expressing her experience with the men!
