Five years ago author Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 novel ‘War Horse’ was adapted into a hugely successful and critically acclaimed stage play. Now it gets the Hollywood and, in particular, the Steven Spielberg treatment (who directs and produces here).
Regardless of what preconceptions you bring to this film it is sure to be one of the most talked about and commercially successful films of 2012 with it’s already built in audience. What should really concern the filmmakers is will it be a critical success also?
The story concerns a young man, Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine) the son of Devon farmer Ted (Peter Mullan) and Rose (Emily Watson). Together they struggle to pay the rent to their landlord Lyons (David Thewlis). One day Ted buys a thoroughbred horse, Joey, at auction at an inflated price and then their troubles really begin.
Albert forms a close bond with Joey and the rest of the film tells the story from the perspective of Joey and the lives of the people he meets and touches during the First World War. There are some wrenching scenes where Joey is sold to the British cavalry and is shipped off to France to be used in battle against the German army.
The film, as does the novel and stage play tells of the agricultural age giving way to the industrial mechanised age. The horse and cavalry is being replaced by the tank and very early on we see the futility and waste of horses used in this new kind of warfare.
Chivalry and honour is quickly discarded and any romantic notions of fighting for ‘King and Country’ are soon brutally dispelled in the hail of machine gun bullets, shells and mustard gas. The trench warfare that ensues over the next four years and the mire that rural France becomes as a consequence is particularly hard hitting and forceful.
We are given reminders of normal life such as when we meet French farm girl Emilie (Celine Buckens) and her doting grandfather (Niels Arestrup) but these idyllic glimpses are soon shattered by the encroaching war and its senselessness.
Ultimately the film is about hope in seemingly hopeless circumstances. Joey is a talisman, a symbol for all that is good about us and he brings this out in everyone who meets him. Yes its sentimental, yes it’s syrupy but believe me it is also a relief to have a thin ray of sunshine amid all the carnage.
‘War Horse’ is a powerful, soaring film which boasts excellent production values, cinematography and sincere heartfelt performances. It is most importantly about of a way of life that is now gone forever as a direct consequence of war.