Dream Horse is an inspiring biographical sports drama film directed by Euros Lyn, based on a true story that spanned from 2001 to 2009 in Wales. It follows the lives of Jan Vokes, a supermarket worker, and other townspeople who band together to finance the care and upbringing of a racehorse from birth to entry into regional and national competitions. The film stars Toni Collette and Damian Lewis, with a talented supporting cast bringing to life the emotional, uplifting story of their trials and triumphs.
Toni Collette delivers an impressive performance as Jan Vokes, a woman leading a humdrum life in a small Welsh village. The monotony of her life with husband Brian is broken when Jan decides to pursue her dream of breeding a racehorse. Armed with books on how to care for horses, Jan self-educates and uses her savings to purchase a mare to breed with a stallion, forming a syndicate to own the resulting foal. The arrival of Dream Alliance, the foal who shortly thereafter began to show potential, brought the group of syndicate members hope and joy. Jan and Howard, a former racehorse business owner who is now bankrupt, lead the way and watch as Dream Alliance grows and matures into a powerful and fast racehorse.
Dream Alliance is taken to Philip Hobbs’ horse training facility, where he quickly impresses the trainer with his fierce spirit and desire to race. After some training, Dream Alliance made his debut at a race and finishes a close fourth.
As Dream Alliance continued to compete and win more races, the syndicate members began to believe that they had a horse that could go all the way. They resisted the temptation to let Dream Alliance go to a wealthy businessman who offered to buy him, setting up a conflict with those who believed that the price was too good to refuse. Things took a turn during one grueling competition when Dream Alliance suffered a serious leg injury. There were arguments within the syndicate as to what should be done, but eventually, they agreed to support Dream financially with his medical bills so they could get him the necessary treatment to recover. After a peaceful period of recovery, Philip announced to the group that Dream Alliance was now fit to compete again.
At the Welsh Grand National, the stakes were high, and Jan was hesitant to let Dream Alliance participate. Though the syndicate members were eager for Dream Alliance to race. Her doubts, however, were soon forgotten as Brian encourages her to give Dream Alliance a chance to shine.
The movie expertly captures the joy and passion of racing, as well as the dedication and hard work it takes to get there. It effectively tells the inspiring story of a horse that came from humble beginnings to become a champion, thanks to the unwavering support of Jan Vokes and the rest of the syndicate.
The formulaic plot is not what makes Dream Horse an excellent film. What distinguishes it from other movies in the same genre is the warmth of the story, the excellent dialogue by writer Neil McKay, and humorous quips that were reminiscent of British humor. The PG rating makes it an ideal movie for the whole family to watch together, which can bridge the gap between younger and older viewers with various conflicts that do not drain emotional tension.
In conclusion, Dream Horse is a film that will make viewers emotional as they watch a group of ordinary people accomplish something remarkable. It is a heartwarming tale of determination and perseverance that will linger long after it is over.
