Synopsis:
Based on a powerful true story, The Dark Horse is the uplifting portrait of a man searching for the courage to lead, despite his struggles with mental illness. The film features a stunning, award-winning performance by Cliff Curtis (Whale Rider, Blow, “Fear the Walking Dead”) as Genesis “Gen” Potini, a brilliant but troubled New Zealand chess champion who finds purpose by teaching underprivileged children about the rules of chess and life.
After years in and out of mental institutions, Genesis is released into the care of his estranged brother Ariki (Wayne Hapi) and thrust into his volatile gang lifestyle. Seeking to escape this toxic environment, Genesis finds solace by volunteering at the Eastern Knights chess club and sharing his gift with the disadvantaged Maori children of his community. Charismatic and impassioned, Gen encourages the group to train for the upcoming National Chess Championships. But his teaching puts him at odds with his brother when Ariki’s son Mana (James Rolleston) shows an interest in the game – chess is considered a distraction from the teen’s imminent initiation into his father’s gang.
Genesis’s conflict with his brother and the violent gang, along with his ongoing battle with illness, threaten to ruin the hopeful progress Gen has made for himself and the young Eastern Knights. But Genesis’s positivity leads him to always search for light, even when the world seems at its darkest.
What We Thought:
The Dark Horse is an uplifting film with a great performance by Cliff Curtis. I was not familiar with the story at all so if you aren’t either, don’t look into it till after the movie.
Sure we’ve seen similar films with similar stories, but that’s ok. Curtis plays a former chess champion who’s struggled with mental issues. He gets released and is living with his brother, a gang banger and his nephew. He comes across a chess club for kids and wants to help.
The kids are troubled kids themselves and he tries to teach them the game and get them into a tournament. His nephew wants to be part of the group, but his brother wants the nephew to be part of the gang.
Is it just another version of The Great Debaters? Finding Forrester? Freedom Writers? Dangerous Minds? Or any other mentor/at risk/underprivileged/youth films? Yes, 100%.
If you’ve seen the documentary Brooklyn Castle then you’ve seen this film. This is pretty much the New Zealand version of that, but as a narrative and not a documentary.
But Curtis does give a great performance and the kids themselves do a great job as well. I honestly didn’t know New Zealand had gangs that you would see in a show like Sons of Anarchy so I learned that as well. You can probably guess the ending as it goes along, but with a film like this, that’s expected.
The Dark Horse has an uplifting story during a time where we need them the most. It’s good for tweens and tweens to watch with their families. Curtis is quite good and I did learn things as well so for that, the film is…
RECOMMENDED!
Bonus Features:
- None
Cast & Crew:
- Cliff Curtis
- Wayne Hapi
- James Rolleston
Recommended If You Like:
- Brooklyn Castle
- The Great Debaters
- Finding Forrester
The Nerds Templar 