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EDITOR'S PICK
`Secretariat` -
of the horse-man bond and gender (IANS Film Review)
Rating: ****
When still photography began in the early 18th century, a startling discovery
was made - that for the briefest of moments all four feet of a horse are in the
air i.e. a horse does not just run, it also flies. To believe it, watch
"Secretariat", where in one of its most stunning moments captured in
super slow motion, you see the horse - Secretariat - literally fly. Thankfully,
so does the film.
Born and raised on a horse farm by her father, middle-aged Penny with her four
children returns during her mother`s funeral in the late `60s, to find her
father almost a vegetable, and the prospect of selling off the loss-making
family horse farm looming large.
Taught by her father never to give up, but having given up so much for her
husband and her family, Penny reluctantly takes up the challenge to turn the
farm around. When a pure-bred mare delivers a fowl, hopes are raised.
The horse, Red - officially named Secretariat - has his own idiosyncrasies and
is born with the heart of a fighter. Together, man and horse will rediscover the
old bond that brought them together, to write history.
Based on the true story of the `greatest racehorse`, "Secretariat" has
many things going for it. What is not, is that not only does it sound like the
last great horse film "Seabiscuit", it also looks like one. Indeed,
you can call "Secretariat" a newer version.
Despite the obvious comparisons, the film does chart its own course, blending
soft melodrama and hard reality into a very real and enjoyable cinema. Whereas
"Seabiscuit" was about the relationship between man and horse,
"Secretariat" is about the human condition.
The film, with great conviction and grace, interweaves many sub-plots and issues
into one strong core. There`s no demarcation between gender struggles, political
issues - especially war and apartheid, yet all of them are handled without any
becoming overbearing to the main story.
The main theme, however, remains that of gender. As a housewife in the late
`60s, where a woman`s place in America was still thought to be in the house,
Penny has to face a lot of sexism. It is her strong will, which is gentle but
during strife is headstrong, that pulls her and her motley crew through.
The pace of the film is gentle and lilting and is filled with some original and
some cliched inspiring one-liners. Sample these, "It`s not whether they
think we won, but whether we think we won" and "father`s legacy is the
will to win or live with it if you can`t".
The cast is impeccable. John Malcovich is his usual funny best, but it is Diane
Lane as Penny who chooses to run a harder, and a much more hopeless race against
gender discrimination, who steals the show. She is quiet, restrained and
forceful when the scene demands it. Her performance is definitely Oscar
material.
The horse, Secretariat, in all his races begins last only to end first. Just
like his owner and quite a few of us. The message of this feel-good family
entertainer is clear - you got to risk everything if you don`t want to live your
life in regret.