I had been trying to see this Japanese film ever since I first noticed it in a 16mm distributor's catalog many decades ago. While it played in New York, Boston, and elsewhere upon its 1956 U.S. release, it seems to have disappeared after that. I was able to find an (unsubtitled) copy on DVD from Japan, and I finally got to see it and enjoy it despite my non-knowledge of the Japanese language. The story is very easy to follow. It deals with a farm boy and his older sister in Japan and the horse they come to love after it is born and who ultimately grows and wins a race in Tokyo in a bittersweet finale. The color photography throughout is marvelous, and the two child actors who play brother and sister are both splendid. This movie, which has echos of "National Velvet," would be perfect on TCM.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
