Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Jeremy Irvine as Albert, Peter Mullan asTed Narracott, Emily Watson as Rose Narracott, Tom Hiddleston as Captain Nicholls, Niels Arestrup as Grandfather, Celine Buckens as Emilie
Released: Dec. 25, 2011
Rated: PG-13
Joey was born in the green backcountry of southeast England, and everyone who saw him claimed never to have seen a more magnificent horse. He was so beautiful, in fact, that a farmer (who went to market to buy a nice, dependable plow horse) spent all his money on the animal—much to the chagrin of his exasperated wife. Still, the farmer’s son, Albert, falls head-over-heels for Joey. In time, the horse and his boy become inseparable. Albert even teaches the steed to plow.
When World War I begins, the two are separated, and it’s not Albert who goes off to battle, but Joey. The farmer, desperate to save the family farm, sells the stallion to a British captain. Soon, Joey changes hands again…and again…and again. He travels from one side of the front to the other and winds up in the terrible wasteland between the trenches. Joey, like any soldier, does what he can to stay alive, hoping in spite of it all to be reunited with the ones he loves.
War Horse, directed by Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg, is about the horrors of war and the heroism we find in its midst. Though the action is not bloody or gory as in Saving Private Ryan or Schindler’s List, the film never flinches from how brutal battle can be. Joey’s health and life are in constant peril; and sometimes the horse runs through his apocalypse, terrified.
In spite of all the insanity, Joey shows he’s more of a hero than some humans. He shows dedication to the job at hand. He risks his own health for that of a fellow animal. He pushes on when it would be easier to give up. He serves as a great example of literally showing courage under fire and grace under pressure.
Along the way, Joey meets some pretty cool humans, to Captain Nicholls, who promises Albert that if he’s able, he’ll return the horse to him after the war. Two German boys save Joey’s life by drafting him to pull an ambulance. A little French girl hides Joey in her bedroom. Two soldiers form an unlikely alliance to cut Joey free from a tangle of barbed wire.
War Horse is a beautifully filmed, emotionally resonant movie that may be a Best Picture nominee. Through Joey and Albert, we see two great examples of how to handle the roughest of times.
Questions:
1. Joey and Albert show tremendous courage…though the film suggests courage can take different forms. What is courage? When have you been at your most courageous?
2. Grandfather says war “takes everything from everyone.” In War Horse, we see many people freely give a great deal, to Joey takes the place of an injured horse. Albert is willing to give up his horse. Grandfather is willing to sell everything he has to honor his granddaughter. When have you given up something very precious to you?
