THE MUSTANG

Belgium/France, 2019, 96 minutes, Colour.

Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Mitchell, Bruce Dern, Gideon Adlon, Connie Britton, Josh Stewart.

Directed by Laure Clermont de Tonnere.

The is a prison film – but with some differences. Matthias Schoonaerts plays Roman, in prison for the brutal attack on his wife, conscious of his bad temper and repentant. Bruce Dern plays one of the prison supervisors, in charge of a program where local horses are tamed and trained. Roman, with the help of friend, Henry, Jason Mitchell, takes on a very difficult horse Marquis and becomes very attached to him.

There is a complication when his daughter comes to visit him, unhappy memories.

There is also a complication when Roman’s friend, Dan, is murdered by a roommate.

Encouraged by Myles, Roman continues work with Marquis but is injured in a fall. However, with the gate open, he allows Marquis to escape.

Resigned to his life in jail, Roman is visited by his daughter who tells him she is pregnant and will name her child after him. And, he has a glimpse of Marquis standing near the gates of the compound.

The film is the first American film by French actress and director, writer Laure Clermont de Tonnere.

1. The title? A film for those who love horses? The Mustangs in the Western states, roaming wild, captured, euthanised? The auctions and the training by prisoners?
2. The Nevada scenery, isolated, the open plains, the mountains? The prison in this context? Fencing, wires? The interiors, the cells, the passageways, the recreation area? The corrals with the horses? The musical score?
3. Roman and his story? The assault on his wife, her permanent injuries, the effect on his daughter? Her coming to visit, her resentment? The gradual revelation of his story? 12 years in prison, sullen, humourless? Arriving at the prison, allotted to the cell, his cellmate, taciturn, helping him later with the drugs, sprinkled on the vests? With the authorities, taciturn? The interview with the psychologist? The routines of prison life?
4. The Mustangs, the opening credits, the aerial sequences of the Mustangs racing, the helicopter guiding them, the magnificence of the animals, rounded up, the corral?
5. The prison plan, the men to tame the horses, get them ready for the auction? Myles, his age and experience, tough, hard on the men, guiding them, ordering them? Some praise? The time taken to tame the horses, his patience?
6. Roman, going to the horses, his rough handling, anger? The gradual bonding with the Mustang? Riding, falling? Myles coaching him? Gradually controlling him, riding in line, reverse? The importance of the bonding for Roman?
7. The other prisoners with the horses, Henry, genial, black man, the drugs issue? With the horses, friendship with Henry, jokes? His being attacked in the yard, his death? The other men, especially the skill of the Native American, the old man with a moustache…?
8. The symbolic parable between Roman and the horse, both rebellious, and willing to be subdued, the taming experience, making concessions?
9. Martha and her visits, resentment, pregnancy, memories of her mother, Roman in prison but Martha having to look after her mother and care for her year after year? Roman inviting her to the auction, not coming, later sending the photo? Roman as grandfather?
10. The auction, the crowds gathering, sitting on the benches, the applause, the emotion of the national anthem? The display of the horses, riders with flags? The Native American and his writing, the first was to be sold?
11. The auction not quite going as the audience expected, Roman, success, falling from his horse, the horse’s violent reaction? Roman and his injury?
12. The closing of the program, Myles and his leaving, talking with Roman, indicating that the doors could be open, Roman with the horse, letting it go, going back to the hills?
13. The psychologist, the group work, Roman participating, the effect?
14. Roman, continuing to serve his sentence, more subdued and accepting, and the Mustang returning and then leaving?