Dark Horse

Writer/Director Louise Osmond’s fabulous docudrama Dark Horse is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the common person.

It’s the story of the citizens of a small Welsh town that is suffering from the decline of the coal mining industry that had been the mainstay of their existence.

A part-time bar waitress/part-time cleaner of a Costco-like store named Jan Vokes gets the idea of buying a horse and getting it trained for the local derbies.  She enrolls 22 of the local denizens to each put up 10 pounds a week to purchase a scrawny thoroubred  horse for 300 pounds, pay a 3000 pound stud fee and, eventually, 18,000 for a top trainer for the foul that is born.

Over an 8-year period, their common dream turns into Dream Alliance, a horse that after poor starts, injuries and all manner of problems defies all odds to win the Welsh National Cup.

The story of the ups and downs of the adventure is told through interviews with the actual participants and is incredibly uplifting and worthwhile at this time of political animosity across the globe, not to mention our own derby season.

I give Dark Horse a 4 out of 5.