Virginia lives with her father and older sister in Maine, where her father is lobsterman. Her mother died recently in a horse riding accident, it seems. Father sold the horse to a neighbor and has forbidden Virginia to ride. This is a harsh sentence for Virginia, as horses are part of her heart and soul. Twister, the sold horse, dies giving birth to a beautiful foal which Virginia names Stormy. In secret, she begins to ride Stormy and continue on her way to becoming an expert horsewoman. A snooty neighbor boy named Darrow does two reprehensible things toward Virginia's family. First, he nearly kills her sister in a reckless driving adventure. And, second, he convinces his father to sell Stormy. Virginia is heartbroken until her father convinces her to work at a nearby horse farm. What will it take for Virginia and, indeed, all of her family to heal from their loss? This is a lovely film for anyone who loves horses or animals. Stormy is indeed a beauty and Virginia is a teenager with spunk and savvy. All of the actors give nice turns in their respective roles. The scenery is also quite beautiful and there is a bit of a romance, too. If you know of someone who worships horses and dreams of owning a horse, this movie will send them into raptures. All others will sit down and enjoy a nice, family-friendly movie with character.
11 Reviews
Hokey but enjoyable family film.
dmatthews034 March 2003
O.K. you can see the plot twists coming a mile way but the film ends up being a pleasant experience and a notch better than the usual 'girl and her horse movie' mainly because of the superior production. There is some beautiful Nova Scotia scenery and many shots of galloping horses to delight the horse lovers.
The acting is generally good although Gabriel Byrne's mind seems elsewhere and he tends to mumble his lines and that, with his Irish accent makes him difficult to understand sometimes. The two young girls playing his daughters however bear the brunt of the film and they are both excellent and pretty. There is sentiment in the movie but it never gets maudlin. The scene where the girls reminisce about their dead mother is genuinely moving.
The lengthy final endurance horse race is well done and the suspense is maintained until the end as the bad guys (more jerks than anything else)try their skullduggery to stop Virginia from race. The kids will love it when one of them gets his comeuppance in that old cliche - the horse trough.
There in nothing scary for the kids and when the film is over you are left with a nice warm feeling, which is the way this type of film should leave you.
The acting is generally good although Gabriel Byrne's mind seems elsewhere and he tends to mumble his lines and that, with his Irish accent makes him difficult to understand sometimes. The two young girls playing his daughters however bear the brunt of the film and they are both excellent and pretty. There is sentiment in the movie but it never gets maudlin. The scene where the girls reminisce about their dead mother is genuinely moving.
The lengthy final endurance horse race is well done and the suspense is maintained until the end as the bad guys (more jerks than anything else)try their skullduggery to stop Virginia from race. The kids will love it when one of them gets his comeuppance in that old cliche - the horse trough.
There in nothing scary for the kids and when the film is over you are left with a nice warm feeling, which is the way this type of film should leave you.
Worst movie I've ever sen...
qhapp11 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Wow, that was absolutely terrible. My neighbor lent it to me to watch and told me it was great, but she's clueless when it comes to horses, obviously. I loved how at the beginning of the movie, the pregnant mare is just standing outside. In the rain; a thunderstorm actually. Like anyone with a mare even remotely close to foaling would leave her outside. How stupid. And then she just died for no apparent reason. It sounds terrible, but I totally cracked up.
And then I never really got the point of the sister/boyfriend subplot. It was really dumb and predictable.
Next point of stupidity: The girl was riding the two-year-old horse at a dead gallop over terrible-looking terrain at night. By the time that horse is 7 or 8, his knees will be so ruined that he won't be capable of cantering with a rider on his back!
And the horse was different in almost every scene. He'd change from flea-bitten gray to dapple gray; he'd change from a Quarter Horse to a Thoroughbred; his face markings would change from a blaze to a snip; it was so obvious!
Anyway, that's an hour and a half of my life that I'll never have back. If you haven't seen it yet: don't! I am a horse person; I have 2 horses of my own, so naturally I'm very critical of horse movies. But that was the worst I've seen since Black Beauty.
And then I never really got the point of the sister/boyfriend subplot. It was really dumb and predictable.
Next point of stupidity: The girl was riding the two-year-old horse at a dead gallop over terrible-looking terrain at night. By the time that horse is 7 or 8, his knees will be so ruined that he won't be capable of cantering with a rider on his back!
And the horse was different in almost every scene. He'd change from flea-bitten gray to dapple gray; he'd change from a Quarter Horse to a Thoroughbred; his face markings would change from a blaze to a snip; it was so obvious!
Anyway, that's an hour and a half of my life that I'll never have back. If you haven't seen it yet: don't! I am a horse person; I have 2 horses of my own, so naturally I'm very critical of horse movies. But that was the worst I've seen since Black Beauty.
Beautifully crafted with a stunning and heartfelt story
wclyffe-122 September 2002
I loved this film...I cannot wait for it to come to theaters in the United States. This is one of those movies that sneaks up on you. At first, you think it is going to be a simple film about a girl and her horse, but it is loaded with action, death-defying action, and really pays off in the end. I saw it in Toronto at the festival....WOW!...the reaction was a standing ovation!!
Awful
lgm1361 January 2008
I guess this movie might be okay for children or people who don't know much about horses...but I have never seen a more poorly researched movie! As an equestrian I laughed through the entire movie at the ridiculousness of it all. THEY HAD THE HORSE BACKWARDS IN THE TRAILER!!! Other than the major oversights with regard to horses and owning horses, the movie was cheesy and terribly predictable. I was incredibly surprised to see that the movie was not very old - it seems like something that would have been released in the late 80s or early 90s. It was clearly outdated. If you want to see a good horse movie, rent Seabiscuit, or if you're looking for something a little more kid friendly, Dreamer or National Velvet.
Definitely A Human Story
katyzone10 March 2009
Definitely NOT meant to be accurate or an actually detailed horse documentary, it is a story made by film makers about a girl and a horse, not a film made by horse experts. An expect on call would of been nice, but I like how an effective film about people was made to the point that I didn't care.
I wouldn't know a quarter from a stallion or whatever, and the closest animal I have been close to is my cat, but I love that others love animals and actually do stuff in real life with them, like competitions and shows. And that they have a capacity to LOVE them and be loved in turn.
It makes us as humans so much more, more dimensional and more conscious that we share this planet with OTHERS, and how we act toward them reflects on us.
The movie goes for all the heart string clichés. And don't think for a moment that is a bad thing. I LOVE heart tuggers and the more one can put in a drama, the BETTER. And what better than a hurting young family that struggles and copes with devastating loss and still manages to live and love... and learn from each other.
I love National Velvet as well and the spunky and spirited young actresses reminded me of each other. I also love the siblings (many in National Velvet, the older sister in Virgina's Run) as growing up I know that they may mess you and compete with you but will be there for you if the chips are down.
I just know this one is a keeper.
I wouldn't know a quarter from a stallion or whatever, and the closest animal I have been close to is my cat, but I love that others love animals and actually do stuff in real life with them, like competitions and shows. And that they have a capacity to LOVE them and be loved in turn.
It makes us as humans so much more, more dimensional and more conscious that we share this planet with OTHERS, and how we act toward them reflects on us.
The movie goes for all the heart string clichés. And don't think for a moment that is a bad thing. I LOVE heart tuggers and the more one can put in a drama, the BETTER. And what better than a hurting young family that struggles and copes with devastating loss and still manages to live and love... and learn from each other.
I love National Velvet as well and the spunky and spirited young actresses reminded me of each other. I also love the siblings (many in National Velvet, the older sister in Virgina's Run) as growing up I know that they may mess you and compete with you but will be there for you if the chips are down.
I just know this one is a keeper.
Family Film for Horse Lovers
wmarywells13 March 2003
This is a wonderful family film in the tradition of Disney. For every female who loves horses, this film will touch in a way no other film can. Yes, the plot twists can be seen coming but this does not change the good feeling that the end leaves you with. Gabriel Byrne is wonderful as the father who just wants to protect his children. This is a movie to be watched with a large bowl of popcorn and a large box of tissues.
Why I Loved This Film
jlinksmi8 July 2002
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** I saw Virginia's Run at the Seattle Film Festival and found myself totally absorbed. The movies it brings to mind are National Velvet and more recently Fly Away Home. The cinematography is beautiful a la The Black Stallion but it is the story that swept me away. A family is recovering from the loss of their mother in a horse accident and the 12 year old daughter is forbidden to ride again by the father, Gabriel Byrne. She helps deliver a foal in the middle of the night (how they did this is beyond me) and she adopts the horse without telling her dad. When the horse is grown she rides him at night, Eventually he finds out, trauma ensues but ut us resolved and in the end she enters a 50 mile endurance race where her chief rival is her sister's boyfriend. The film never has a false moment and the acting is strong across the board. Gabriel Byrne is a wonderful presnece and really anchors the film. JoAnne Whalley plays an outsider who prods him along accepting Virginia's desire to ride and she is very good. I loved the relationship between Virginia and her sister, Caroline who is a few years older and very different in terms of her interests. She is going through the mid-teen sexuality trip which Virginia can't relate to. There is a scene where Caroline reads (actually she has it memorized) her mother's diary that had the entire audience in tears. Actually I counted four times I was drawn to tears. Caroline's boyfriend is cute as hell but a real jerk. And a very effective jerk. You can't wait to see him get squashed. For my kids there was great action. The horse photography is fabulous and the scenery breathtaking. The girl who played Virginia is so spunky and real that she could carry the movie by herself. She doesn't ever overact and is right on the money in every scene. If you want to see a film for the family that isn't in the 'dumb comedy' category or isn't animated film this is the real thing. After the theaters it's going to sell tons of videos.
My 9 year old daughter was rivitted from start to finish
Frolic15 October 2002
Magnificent family entertainment. Nice to see the bad guy dressed totally in black, just like the good old cowboy movies! My nine year old daughter was on the edge of her seat from beginning to end, relating to the young women who were struggling to win, and to the magnificent horses.
It was amazing!!! a must see!!! i give it a perfect score!
foxy_latina_chick6920 October 2002
Don't listen to how people are rating this!! i'm telling you it's wonderful!! and if you're a horse lover u have to go and watch it!!! it's a great adventure and a wonderful plot!!!!! the best i've seen in a long time!
best movie for horse lovers
broken_wing1161 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
this is like my most favorite movie in the whole world. i love and ride horses. it's such a heart felt movie. i love how it shows some drama and yet it is still a fun movie that you never get tired of. i think Lindze Letherman is such a great actress and she kinda reminds me a lot of myself. shes really headstrong and won't take no for an answer. anyways if you have not sen this movie before go and rent it or something. it's worth watching! you see a lot of horses running and galloping, which is what i love. this is one of those movies, that no matter how many times you've watched it you wanna watch it over again and again. its exciting and full of horses!
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