I’m what you would call an avid horse lover. A passion for My Little Pony that later transitioned into a daunting collection of Breyer horse models? Check. A small library of equine encyclopedias and horse novels? Check. An inability to drive by a horse-filled pasture without spontaneously shouting “neigh neighs!” or “horsies!” despite being 39 and a fully-fledged adult? Check. An ever-growing bevy of favorited horse movies trotted out (snorts) at the mere sign of depression or anxiety to induce some much-needed dopamine? Check. Therein, one can understand my delight at the opportunity to review Bleeker Street’s “Dream Horse.” As a subject matter expert on all things equine (credentials noted above), I was intrigued to see how this rendition of Dream Alliance’s story would fare. As a racehorse enthusiast and finding myself quite familiar with Dream Alliance’s backstory, I found the movie to be on par with its many other racehorse movie contemporaries. Much like “Secretariat,” Bleeker Street’s “Dream Horse,” focuses primarily on the human aspect of Dream Alliance’s story. While “Dream” is, indeed, a main part of the story, it is Toni Collette’s character, Jan Vokes, who takes center stage.
For those unfamiliar, “Dream Horse” is based upon the story of Dream Alliance, a steeplechase racing horse from Southern Wales who overcame tremendous odds to win the Welsh Grand National. If this story sounds familiar, you may remember it from Louise Osmond’s 2015 award-winning documentary, “Dark Horse.” Like the documentary, the story follows Jan Vokes and her struggles to find joy and purpose after her children have left the nest while slogging through a boring job at the local co-op in the quiet, rundown town of Cefn Fforest. Portrayed by Toni Collette (who surprises with a brilliant run at a South Walian accent), Jan Vokes and her husband, Brian “Daisy” Vokes decide to purchase an off-track Thoroughbred mare and breed a racehorse. Inspired by a local townie’s experience with an owner syndicate, Jan sets out to start her own syndicate amongst her neighbors. Thus, a rag-tag ensemble consisting of the town drunk, a handful of blue-collar workers, a teacake-obsessed retiree, and the Vokeses set about to dip their toes into the pretentious world of thoroughbred racing.
In the end, “Dream Horse” is like many other underdog racehorse movies – it fits well within its niche but doesn’t necessarily stand out from the crowd. Unlike contemporaries, such as “Pharlap” or “The Black Stallion,” the audience isn’t left with a strong connection to Dream Alliance but, rather, with Jan Vokes and her own personal journey. Make no mistake, this is a horse movie – just in the same way “Sea Biscuit” and “Secretariat” are horse movies – however, “Dream Horse,” is a movie that focuses on the character arc and the humanitarian side of the Dream Alliance syndicate. Toni Collette’s version of Jan Vokes is honest and stubborn, epitomizing both the dreamer and the fighter renown to the Welsh people. Supporting her, Owen Teale brings a quiet strength to his role as Brian “Daisy” Vokes, while Damian Lewis adds another layer with his role as the vulnerable Howard Davies. Overall, the plot adheres well enough to Dream Alliance’s story, altering a few elements here and there with artistic license and for drama’s sake. In the end, it will definitely earn its place amongst its contemporaries and within the hearts of all horse-lovers. More importantly, it is a feel-good movie that pays tribute to the resilience of the Welsh people and their ability to find strength amidst great adversity and setback.
