Customer Reviews

White Mane (The Criterion Collection)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I gasp at the beauty of this film...the only way to describe it is to imagine a nature photograph of Edward Weston or Ansel Adams coming to life. The story is simple enough. A wild horse that runs free in the South of France is captured by some French "cowboys", yet refuses to be tamed and breaks free. Despite several efforts of the cowboys to retrieve this pick of the horses, White Mane will only allow himself to be handled by a young boy - the son of a fisherman in harmony with nature. But it is not the story that makes this film sing...it is the combination of some of the most beautiful, lyrical images I have ever seen on the screen, the folk music of the South of France, and the very sparse narration in the French language. So therefore, it is a film where nature in the raw unfolds before our eyes...without distractions of unnecessary conversation or sentimental music.

A few words about the fighting among the horses. Everyone knows this is common to determine status and rank in the herd. That is reality...in the animal world and, alas, in the human world also. What the film does is depict "White Mane" as he truly is, wild. untamed, and even a little brutal.

This is poetry in film, plain and simple. This is allegory. And it is even ballet as the music - when it is played - is coordinated so perfectly with the movement of the cowboys or the horse. If you are someone who finds joy in watching a jackrabbit scampering along the cracked earth with a wild stallion accompanying his rhythms, then this is the film for you.

I saw this movie very many years ago, and the magic remains. Albert Lamorisse crafted a simple tale, almost without words, of a fisher-boy in France's Camargue region, and his love for the wild white stallion whose independence and freedom is threatened by man. The black and white photography is luminous, dazzling with its intense beauty. And the film's ending will stay with you forever.
Criterion is releasing on two separate DVDs two short movies by Lamorisse shot around the same time -- this one, and the better-known 'Balloon Rouge' or 'Red Balloon', made a handful of years later. Such a shame these two films, which total just 90 minutes together, could not have been released together on just one disc. 'Crin Blanc' is the finer of the two. It is a film for all people, of all ages.

A companion to the same director's classic "The Red Balloon," this exquisite film probably wouldn't be made for children today ... and that's a pity. Children, simply by being younger, smaller, and weaker than the adult world around them, are already well aware of cruelty. They all understand what it is to be bullied, to be targeted for being different, to have to fight when they'd rather just be left alone. "White Mane" presents this fact of life not brutally, or mercilessly -- but honestly.

And it offers more, as well. The lyrical beauty of the film, the gorgeous black & white photography, the astonishingly expressive face of the boy Folco, all remind us that if there's unfairness in the world, there's also something sublime & deeply moving in it as well -- if only we look for it & see it. And it offers the consolation of art, and of storytelling itself.

I understand the misgivings of some regarding the film's ending. It's ambiguous at best, a harsh reminder that the sensitive of this world are often hounded by those who don't (or won't) understand them, and thus do their best to destroy them. But children can't be protected by denying that sad fact. If anything, a film like this probably enables them to deal with it better.

Adult viewers will savor the poetry, but also shake their heads in doleful recognition. It's a poignant gem of a film, most highly recommended!

Albeit this film may not be for more squeamish or very young children, it is something that most kids could relate to. Children like to see other kids being independent and doing things like tame horses and defy wayward adults. The depiction of animals is quite interesting and can provoke reactions of surprise as to the fluid and graceful moves of horses. The horse fighting might be too intense for some kids, but it is depicted as a natural behavior of horses and shows that there are pecking orders in all species. Kids who are having a difficult time in their own lives navigating the pecking order of school and other authority will relate especially well to this film. Sometimes just being understood can be a great morale boost to a troubled child.

A marsh area in the south of France harbors its own breed of pony, the Camargue. A little boy named Folco (Alain Emery) finds a special pony of his own and gently makes friends with him, only to have the horse taken by horsemen who want to break his wild spirit. Directed by legendary filmmaker Albert Lamorisse, White Mane won the Grand Prize at Cannes.

Staci Layne Wilson

White Mane is the name of a wild horse living in a barren region of Southern France, the leader of a herd of horses. Some "gauchos" try to capture him and do, for a time, but he escapes. He is seen by a young boy who eventually befriends him and brings him to his home, which he shares with an old man and a baby sister. The family has other pets, such as turtles and a flamingo. Unfortunately, the gauchos haven't given up their quest to capture the beautiful horse. This somewhat sad tale is lightened considerably by its beautiful photography and by its straightforward tone. It is told in the manner of a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, and would be suitable and recommended for children, with parental guidance, and adults.

I have seen this film several times in a theater or classroom and enjoyed it. But Criterion produced a much sharper image than I had ever seen before. We watched it with a woman who works with horses, and she was amazed at the horses in the film. The fighting scenes were excellent, and she marvelled at White Mane in the fire. The boy Falco is still a wonderful character to watch, pure and determined. Their escape into the water is tragic to watch. What joy when your previously enthusiastic pleasure increases through a fresh viewing.

I saw this movie when I was a child in France, it's probably the best film ever so beautiful, so full of love

Franck Tirgari.

Gorgeous cinematography and an endearing narrative typify this triumphant film about a boy who falls in love with a Camargue pony stallion. The story that unfolds is nothing short of charming. As the Camargue herdsmen repeatedly attempt to capture White Mane, the boy is visited in dreams by the stallion, announcing a bond that will eventually bring the two together. Throughout the film, White Mane's power, innocence and freedom is mirrored in the single-mindedness of the boy, who is determined to prevent the stallion from falling into the herdsmens' hands. The stunning scenery of the Camargue region of Southern France forms the backdrop to the film, fraught with lush salt marshes and pristine beaches. Whether you enjoy the original French-language version or the new English version, this film will not disappoint.

A beautiful short French movie. The literal story is of a boy in the Camargue who befriends a wild white pony and rides off, away from the stark real world. A cinematic piece of poetry. (I think this is better in the original or at least un-dubbed version.)