Message
Carefully read this text that has been written by the film company responsible for distributing War Horse. In it, the writer sums up the film and its message.
As you read, highlight the words that you think give a sense of the story of the film and also words which create the ‘idea’ of the film – what you might expect it to look like, where it might be set and so on.
DreamWorks Pictures' "War Horse", director Steven Spielberg's epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War.
"War Horse" begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets - British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter - before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man's Land.
The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse - an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. "War Horse" is one of the great stories of friendship and war - a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is currently on Broadway. It now comes to the screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.
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For discussion
- What are the key adjectives used in the piece? How do they suggest ideas about the film’s scale and its themes?
- Why do you think the piece mentions Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks? What do these names mean to you and what value do you think they add to the film? It is important that you keep all your notes from this section, as they will help you with the tasks that follow.