La Victoire à tout prix

Had the choice between this and another movie tonight, so glad we went for this one. Based on the true story of Michelle Payne, surprisingly directed by Rachael Griffiths, this is a good movie and worth the time to watch. Saw some other reviews to make comment on, one has a low score stating she has won a race no has heard of..... there is no one one in Australia that hasn't heard of the Melbourne Cup, Internationally anyone in the racing world definitely knows of it-- it is a longer race with a bigger prize pool than the Kentucky Derby. Another review states that she was suspended for "taking drugs", yes it was wrong but lets be clear, it was an appetite suppressant, not illegal outside sport.

It's a surefire feelgood result for a story featuring sporting triumph over adversity, and movies have exploited the genre regularly throughout cinema history. In a horseracing context, I felt that 'National Velvet' and 'Champions' raised issues echoed in this production, which lacks suspense and tension as a result. What makes it special is the excellent acting from the always dependable Sam Neill, Teresa Palmer, very believable as the determined single minded and pugnacious Michelle, and Stevie Payne, producing a truly delightful performance as himself. Skilfully scripted and providing a cocktail of humour and pathos in right quantities, the overall experience added up to a very enjoyable hour and a half.

For Horse race fans all over This gritty movie provides some telling shots of what it's like to ride a horse in a tight race.

I was cheering for her. Great and inspirational movie.

... not too many jockeys, if any, so you need to be a legend or achieve something pretty spectacular to qualify. A truly inspirational story, if you need a fix of happiness with a tear or two thrown in, or some motivation to take the next step to achieving your dreams, look no further than here.