Dream Horse

I am a sucker for an underdog story with a happy ending. Especially when it is TRUE!! “Dream Horse” is a little movie with a big heart. It is the story of some of the inhabitants of a poor, forgotten Welsh town that has definitely seen better days. The coal mines are shut, jobs are scarce. Everyone seems to be barely ekeing out a living. Toni Collette playes Jan Volkes, a part time bartender and grocery check-out clerk who dreaams of getting out of her rut. A chance meeting with Howard Davies (Damien Lewis of Band of Brothers) sparks a crazy idea. Jan decides to raise enough money to buy a horse, breed her with a great racehorse, and raise the colt to be a champion racer – all with no experience. But it would cost a lot of money to do so, way more than she can finance. So, she convinces around 20 or so of her neighbors to join the venture as a syndicate, with each one promising to pay ten pounds a month for two years. Ten pounds is a challenge for these people, but they get caught up in Jan’s enthusiasm and hope for the future, and so the venture is a go. With the money, they are able to purchase a mare. A one time stud fee leads to the birth of an energetic little colt they name Dream Alliance who is raised in the little stable Jan’s husband (Owen Teale) has built in their small yard. Dream Alliance a shining beacon of hope for Jan, Howard and actually the whole town. British cinema stalwarts Nicholas Farrell (Chariots of Fire) and Peter Davidson (Doctor Who) perform ably in supporting roles. I am not going to spoil the plot, but of course there are many bumps along the way leading up to the culminating race – the Welsh Grand National! This is an exciting, emotional and heart warming story. I found myself actually clapping and there may have been a tear or two shed. In fact, I dare you not to cry! Currently Dream Horse is not streaming anywhere; so don’t walk, run out to a theatre before this gem of a movie is gone.