Von Mädchen und Pferden
Director: Monika Treut
Writer: Monika Treut
Cast: Ceci Schmitz-Chuh, Alissa Wilms, Vanida Karun, Ellen Grell
Part of: Viennale

Plot:
Alex (Ceci Schmitz-Chuh) recently struggled with school, rules and drugs. To avoid a complete derailment, her adoptive mother signed her up for an internship on a horse farm over the summer. Riding instructor Nina (Vanida Karun) shows her the ropes and despite Alex’ initial distrust, she takes to Nina and the horses. When rich Kathy (Alissa Wilms) comes to the farm with her horse, Alex first sees a rival, but then she and Kathy start to become closer.

Von Mädchen und Pferden was a nice, calm and incredibly gentle film with a great cast and beautiful camera work. It was not exactly what I expected of Treut (who I only knew by reputation as a provocative feminist artist), but I liked it a lot.

Von Mädchen und Pferden was told with a lot of sensitivity and without much drama. Had it been a Hollywood film, it would certainly have included, at least three death scares and a dead horse, but Treut does without all of that. And yet, we see a monumental development in Alex and how she relates to the world.

Generally, she was such a well-written character. I have rarley seen a film that just nails the experience of going through puberty while being adopted so much. I am not adopted myself, but some of my siblings are and I know how hard it was for them during puberty (in particular). We get to see all of that in Alex and in her struggle to find out who she is. But the characters were all well-rounded, as werer their relationships. The relationship between Nina and her girlfriend Christine (Ellene Grell) and the relationship between Alex and Kathy are beautifully contrasted with each other, accentuating both the similarities and the differences in turn.

Another relatinship the film just gets right in my opinion is the one girls have with horses. I was a horse girl myself and somehow the film captured my experiences, threw me back a good 15 years and made me want to go horseback riding again. [It’s been way too long anyway.] Preferably wherever the film was shot because that was just a beautiful scenery and very well captured on camera, too.

It is an unusual film in its calmness and gentleness that mirrors those of the horses. I can understand if it wouldn’t be your cup of tea. But if you’ve ever been a girl in love with horses, I can only recommend it.

Summarizing: Beautiful.