Ted Narracott attends the local market to buy a work horse for the family farm. Instead he buys what seems to be a totally inappropriate thoroughbred, and at a rather inflated price too. Needless to say this does not go down very well with his wife, or indeed the land-owner who is due rent money. They come to a mutual agreement, but the likelihood is that he will fall short with the rent money and will have to forfeit the family home. Despite wanting to sell the horse to recoup some of his lost money, his son Albert wants to keep the horse, as they seem to have a connection. He promises to train the horse, and Albert believes that he can get Joey, the name Albert has given him, to work the land.
This he does, much to the delight of the whole village.
But then there is the outbreak of War, and sadly for Albert, Joey is sold to the British Army, and the two have to part company.
We have the second half of the film, looking at what happens to Joey through the various people he meets along his journey. Whether it be the British Officer who is his new owner, or a young French girl who acquires him or a German officer looking out for the horse, all want to have Joey by their side, but for the horse, there is only one true soulmate - Albert Narracott. Will the two ever be joined together again?
The horse is truly remarkable in the adversity that it overcomes, the film could almost have been titled "Superhorse". Maybe it is me being little cynical, but the horse did seem to have a lot to contend with, and to have survived so much does seem somewhat far-fetched. It may also answer the question as to why the film has failed to pick up as many nominations at various Awards ceremonies as one would expect for a Spielberg film.
The cast are all very good, and a rising star to look out for is Jeremy Irvine as Albert Narracott. The visual effects for the horse are really amazing, and a credit to the team responsible.
All in all, it is a good film, but not a great film.........7 out of 10
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