Whisper - Libres comme le vent

OK, right off the bat I want to say this film is superb in the German format as Ostwind. So much is lost in translation/dubbing. I also want to say that some of the points in other reviews could be debated, but as it was said, this is strictly rating the film. The scenery and music are breath-taking, and the plot/acting great too. One of the "errors" pointed out is that it is dangerous sleeping with a stalled horse. But this is a crucial aspect of the plot. Herr Kahn recognizes Mika has a Noirsoj, one who has a special bond to horses, because of Mika sleeping with Ostwind. It is with this awareness that Mr. Kahn develops a unique training program for Mika, one where she truly bonds with Ostwind. I think watching them train together was the best part of the film. This film inspired me to become involved with horse rescue and care. I wanted to see what that kind of bond could feel like and fell in love with our horses. I found an article that rated the 10 best horse films and this one was listed. I couldn't agree more. P. S. I rated Windstorm an 8 because of dubbing, but IMdb doesn't list the original German Ostwind. That film gets my 10.

To be sure, I've taken a hard look (actually it was shoved down my throat) at "spiritually-inspired training methods." Also, I'm aware of non US differences in techniques... Further, walking a horse off the Amish truck (Hungary) was not a foreign concept to me when I felt the need. And last but not least, I'm not here to "bad mouth" the film because movies are for entertainment purposes, with fictitious content - which should therefore not be subjected to peer review.

Having said all that, in the interest of harm reduction, I'd like to offer a few sentences:

Horses are extremely powerful animals and even the most docile weanling can cause serious injury to an individual unintentionally. No thousand pound class animal can be tranquilized and dropped in a few seconds with an intramuscular injection. Colts/Stallions in general, are not the type of animal you want to bond with - that's why most are gelded. Grooming takes place while a horse is tethered, preferably with cross ties. A horse in a domesticated environment requires a halter, at night, in a stall, it may be removed but should be replaced asap in the AM. Never lie down anywhere near a horse.

Outstanding lighting effects, please see it with your children - the ones that have reading skills.

The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

Psychologically the film is very strong and I would say very difficult. A teenage girl who once found out what she wants in life and strives for it no matter what: Neither circumstances, nor parents, nor other people who are trying to supposedly isolate her from problems, but in fact manipulate her, because got used to it in life. The girl does not know fear, does not waste her energy on things that she does not like and that do not suit her, in this case it is physics. In the film you can clearly see how her parents are trying to make her a physicist. Why? Because my grandmother also once wanted to make my mother a horseman. This is how family relationship patterns pass from generation to generation. The girl has lively and strong energy, she is like a fast river that cannot be grabbed, intercepted, much less changed. She lives by her own thoughts and not by the thoughts of her parents and has real fortitude, the same as every child has until her parents break her.

The relationship between the child and the horse is simply incredible. It gave me goosebumps and brought me to tears, even sobs...

A very beautiful, spectacular, solemn film, containing all the ideas that are needed for motivation, development and inspiration. The actors played their roles charmingly.

The film teaches such things as how important it is to find your calling, to be brave and go through life, sweeping away all obstacles from your path, not to give up, to believe in yourself and your neighbor and go to the end.

The only version i found was dubbed, badly. If a movie is filmed in a different language I want to hear the original language with subtitles. The mouth movements never match up and can be distracting. That alone makes unwatchable.

Second best horse movie I have ever seen, 'horse in a gray flannel suit' being the best

Some real horse training going on in this, and horse training foundation techniques, for a change whoever made this knew a LOT about horse training in agility

A little too much drama.