War Horse
2011 · Directed by Steven Spielberg
Original language: English
- war
- history
- drama
The story
On the brink of the First World War, Albert's beloved horse Joey is sold to the Cavalry by his father. Against the backdrop of the Great War, Joey begins an odyssey full of danger, joy, and sorrow, and he transforms everyone he meets along the way. Meanwhile, Albert, unable to forget his equine friend, searches the battlefields of France to find Joey and bring him home.
What it’s like
Golden-hour fields of Devon give way to grey, churned battlefields in this Spielberg film, shot by Janusz Kamiński with warm, saturated light on the farm and washed-out, smoky tones once the war arrives. Camera work is sweeping and classical: long crane shots over wheat and mud, wide empty landscapes that dwarf the soldiers, and close, patient framing on the horse's eyes and the hands of the people who touch him. John Williams' score swells with strings and horns and often gives way to quiet, lonely passages. The vibe is earnest and wistful, a sun-bleached sorrow that softens into hope, suited to a rainy Sunday or a comfort watch with a box of tissues. Pacing is unhurried, with episodes that hand the horse from one owner to the next and let each small human story breathe. Emotional register is sincere and sentimental rather than ironic, and the arc follows a boy's stubborn loyalty and the many kindnesses and cruelties Joey meets. Intensity is moderate: war violence is present, with cavalry charges, artillery and a few deaths, including a harrowing wire-tangle sequence and a brief, sharp gunfire scene, but there is no gore on screen and no sexual content. It is for viewers who want a classic, handsome, emotional war film with an animal at its heart.
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