The Horse Boy
Directed by: Michel O. Scott Cast: Rupert Isaacson, Kristen Neff, Rowan Isaacson Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins Rating: Unrated Release Date: December 11, 2009
PLOT: A professional filmmaker and his wife travel to Mongolia in the hopes of healing their autistic son.
WHO'S IT FOR? You don't have to be a hippie or mystic to enjoy this film, really anyone with a heart will enjoy it.
EXPECTATIONS: I'm a realist, or maybe a cynic. I don't believe that magic can cure disease. But I am interested in autism and I love documentaries so I was hoping for something good.
SCORECARD (0-10)
ACTORS: Rupert Isaacson as himself: Isaacson does double duty as both the narrator of the film and one of its subjects. He's the father of Rowan, the child who's at the center of the film. He speaks in a fancy British accent and he looks a bit like a hippie, so I was inclined to dislike him. Luckily, he's also self-deprecating, open, and completely devoted to his wife and child. Early on in the film I started crying a little because of how lovely this family was together. Seeing people who not only love one another this much, but show it is rare and kind of great. As narrator, Isaacson also guides the journey, explaining where the family is headed off to next, and why. I was concerned that with a father so involved in the making of the film I wouldn't get a clear, unbiased picture of what went on. But I was pleasantly surprised as he shared his experiences and his expectations in an open way that allowed the viewer to differentiate between the opinion from the fact. It's impossible to give a bad score to someone who opens their lives so fully to the camera. Score: 9
Kristen Neff as herself: Neff makes it clear that she's not really a believer in Shamanism and that the journey is all her husband's idea. Still, she's a lover of adventure and she proves herself very game. Whether she's being whipped on the back by some serious Shamen or kicked by a horse, even in her bad moods she has a balance and equilibrium that puts me to shame. The lengths she's willing to go through to make this experiment work, even though she's dubious of it's outcome, are commendable. The amount of love and respect she felt for her husband and his quest was touching. Though not a true believer, she throws herself into the process in a way that makes you kind of love this family. Score: 8
Rowan Isaacson as himself: Rowan is the great enigma of the film. The five year old is at the whim of his emotions which seem to control him, not the other way around. If a normal child his age acted the way he did, you would question it. As it is, it's clear he's in the thrall of some terrible moods he has no control over. His parents dissect all of his actions in the most intimate detail. I'm sure they know him and all of his behaviors better than they know themselves. Still, he remains somewhat unknowable. Score: 8
TALKING: Most of the adults are very well spoken, these are two well educated people and they don't use a lot of ums. There are some subtitles for Mongolian tribes and sometimes the translator is subtitled though I found him easy enough to understand. Score: 7
SIGHTS: The film is shot absolutely beautifully, and there's a lot of gorgeous scenery to see. From the decay of the post-Soviet cities to the beauty of the steppes, the film's a total delight to look at. I dunno what camera he used but it's awesome. Score: 8
SOUNDS: The original music on the soundtrack is surprisingly good, much better then what most non-music documentaries have to offer. Score: 7
PLOT SPOILERS
BEST SCENE: The first scene with the Shaman is pretty powerful. I didn't believe it would work, but I hoped it would.
ENDING: The ending brings to terms everything that's been discussed thus far in the film. The family has made a journey and come back. They didn't get the cure they hoped for, but they did get something that's pretty profound.
QUESTIONS: How much does the search for a cure help Rowan? How much does it help his parents? What goes on in Rowan's mind?
REWATCHABILITY: Yes, I'd like to show the film to my sister, who works with autistic kids. It's emotional, but it's a good journey.
OVERALL
I wasn't sure what I was looking for in this film. So I just let it happen and was pleased with what I saw. Rupert and Kristen are a couple with an autistic son and they've tried many things to help him. His problems range from still needing diapers at the age of five to having uncontrollable tantrums. Rupert conceives of the idea to visit Shamen after spending time in the Kalahari as a journalist. He chooses Mongolia because of Rowan's affinity with horses and that country's history as the birth of horsemanship. I was a little worried at this point the film would become a diatribe encouraging desperate people with autistic children to go running to the ends of the earth seeking a cure. But luckily, the filmmakers take a very even handed view of the subject. Director Scott seems intimately acquainted with the family but still manages to keep enough distance to offer a balanced picture of what's occurring. It certainly helps that both Rupert and Kristen has an understanding of themselves so they can look at the situation, at their hopes and at their son and come up with very honest and reasonable appraisals. And not least, I was really moved by how deeply this family loves one another. Rowan is lucky to have such loving parents who are willing to believe in him. As the story of a family, The Horse Boy is a really moving film that I'd recommend to anyone.
FINAL SCORE: 8/10