Chinese Reviews Reviews

Documentary Review: Taming the Horse (2017) by Tao Gu

In ““, director filmed his close friend Dong for a period of two years. He then spent three years editing his footage to bring us the intimate story of a depressed man on a road trip to the village he grew up in. The film won the Grand Prize for Best Canadian Feature at the 20th Montreal International Documentary Festival. It also won the Montgolfière d’or at the Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes, France in 2017.

Taming the Horse” was featured at the Mulan International Film Festival in Toronto, Ontario

“Taming the Horse” begins with director Tao Gu and Dong in the small basement apartment that the latter has lived for the last four years and hardly left. Dong explains, through sobs and tears, that his life is miserable and he only sees the world through the tiny window in his basement apartment. Tao Gu tells us with a short voice over that he and Dong made a promise to each other to make the long trip by train back to Dong’s childhood village in Northern China. The time has finally come and it appears this is exactly what Dong needs at this point in his life. Even though Tao Gu never explicitly mentions this, I felt that the film was made in order to save his friend’s life as he appears to be suffering from serious depression. We don’t meet Tao Gu in the doc but we inhabit his presence behind the camera with Dong as they travel together on the train from Kunming to Hailar, a 4000 km train ride.

Tao Gu’s film gives us a very intimate look at Dong’s life. He is borderline destitute, depressed, separated from his girlfriend whom he loves very much, and his family believes he is directionless. We spend time with his mother who sees Dong as a wayward child who may never find his place in the world. His father tells the camera how Dong isn’t a man by his definition, whereas his brother is since he works hard and follows his three rules of manhood, respecting country, family and self.

After the film there was a Q&A with producer Yang Aonan who perfectly described the documentary as a beaded necklace. The train trip is the string that ties the beads of the larger story of Dong’s life together in the narrative of this film. These scenes shot prior to the trip are cut into the journey and show us Dong and his family in Kunming. This structure is one of the highlights of the film which I found deeply engaging and expertly constructed. The film is just over two hours long but I found myself wanting more from each scene, which shows us a new piece of Dong and how he is a lost soul and possibly a brilliant artist.

Artistically, this documentary film shines as the overarching theme the title hints at is highlighted by clips of horses running on the plains of Northern China. This analogy to Dong himself and his longing to be free of the troubles of his life is subtly used in the film. Honestly, at first I thought this film was about an artist’s struggle with drug addiction but it is a much deeper story. Dong tells Tau Gu about his first job breaking wild horses close to Mongolia in the North where he grew up and how he longs to return. Dong and Tao Gu embark on a trip of redemption together and it’s a moving and at the same time thoughtful depiction of a man lost.

“Taming the Horse” is one of the best documentaries I have seen in a number of years. The complexity of Dong himself as a man and artist are brought out by Director Tao Gu in a way only an honest and respectful friend could do. During the Q&A after the film, members of the audience had a number of questions about Dong and where he was now. I was interested in whether  Dong was now happy or not and I was pleased to learn he is married and working.

“Taming the Horse” is a brilliant documentary film that offers an in-depth look at a lost and troubled man.

About the author

Matt Ward

I watch about 150 films a year, work full time as an IT guy, have two dogs, two cats and one wonderful wife. Please tweet at me if you enjoy reading one of my reviews. My twitter handle is @matthelps

  • Thanks for this review. It was very insightful and I will be sure to see this film.

  • Subscribe to Our Newsletter

    >