White Mane (1953)
0h 41m | PG-13
In the south of France, in a vast plain region called the Camargue, lives White Mane, a magnificent stallion and the leader of a herd of wild horses too proud to let themselves be broken by humans. Only Folco, a young fisherman, manages to tame him. A strong friendship grows between the boy and the horse, as the two go looking for the freedom that the world of men won’t allow them.
Director: Albert Lamorisse
Studio: Films Montsouris
Genre: Drama, Family
Video: 720p
Cast
Alain Emery
as Folco, the Fisher-Boy
Laurent Roche
as Folco's Grandfather
Pascal Lamorisse
as Folco's Younger Brother
Denys Colomb de Daunant
as Horse Breeder
Clan-Clan
as
François Perie
as
Reviews
When a beautiful, wild, white stallion is manoeuvred into a coral he steadfastly refuses to have anything to do with his new human captors - and pretty soon escapes their custody. The young fisherman "Folco" (Alain Emery) who lives with his grandfather nearby, watches these chases and soon becomes fascinated with this beautiful animal. He determines to try and make friends - but can it avoid the constantly pursuing, relentless, and increasingly cruel wranglers long enough to let him? This is where serendipity takes an hand and offers the young lad an opportunity, assuming he can master aquaplaning, to befriend the creature. There's some beautiful photography of the wild horses here - galloping, frolicking, rutting and the storyline is peppered with a gentle sense of humour. I am sure I even saw a look of disdainful pity coming from the horse as his personal gadfly persists, and persists. Whilst this is essentially a story about a boy's affections, it also invites us to remember that this animal has a place within the hierarchy of it's own kind, and it also has a need to be around them too. Some sort of balance might need to be in order for any satisfaction to be achieved - though maybe not quite the one we are offered in conclusion here!