Review of The Horse Whisperer (1998) by Roxanne D — 27 Dec 2015

This film completely overwhelms me. It is utterly beautiful. However, it isn't without an agenda. It encourages comparison between Diane and Annie, between the country wife and city professional respectively.

I'm not sure that it reserved judgment either way, but it's clear that Diane doesn't approve of Annie. She fears Annie will take Tom away from his life, or moreover, that she will somehow corrupt Tom.

However that the film deals in healing, we can honestly say that everyone comes out of it basically unscathed, but Annie. She loses her job and the man she really loves. Granted she sacrifices her desires for the sake of her family, but she made the greatest sacrifice and took on the greatest risk for her family, and is ultimately sent home in emotional shambles.

The film also deals in usefulness, of which ironically, Annie is utterly stripped upon her journey home.