THE MUSTANG

We already know that animals have the power to heal us, but rarely has a film shown us this transforming process with such molecular-level clarity. There is a violent convict, played by Matthias Schoenaerts, just released from solitary confinement. There is a mustang stallion, taken from a wild herd in Nevada. And there is a horse trainer (Bruce Dern) running a (real) program that matches up convicts with wild horses to train. Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts has soared beyond his original ‘beefcake’ image with films including The Danish Girl and A Little Chaos. In The Mustang, he combines physicality with a brooding sensitivity that has audiences rooting for his tough battle for redemption.

The first film by French actress de Clermont-Tonnerre delights with “Moments that remind us we don’t deserve animals – and still, they stick by us, as if we were worthy of their love.” – Stephanie Zacharek, Time.com