MovieChat Forums > Hross í oss (2015) Discussion > The amount of violence against horses (s...

The amount of violence against horses (spoiler)

posted 10 years ago by pennyfountain
9 replies | jump to latest

This film really disturbed me. Granted, the photography is beautiful, the soundtrack is stirring. However, I was upset at the general theme of vile people imposing their will on horses. Most of the male characters were drunken gits. There was not much to like in this film. The two horses that were killed was a result of 'mistakes' by humans. The first horse was obviously in season when ridden and the stallion was in a compound that was not secure. The second (killed) horse and rider were on a hack and the organisers did not do their job of making sure everyone was safe.

Within the credits was a disclaimer to say no animals were hurt and all the cast and crew are horselovers and owners. I can understand why they felt compelled to include that statement. Huh!

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

I agree with you completely. The description of the film and what I'd been led to understand in reviews did not prepare me for this film. The film showed nothing of life from a horse's perspective. Instead it was about the imposition of humans on horses. There's little to love about this film aside from the horses themselves. A major disappointment and missed opportunity.

I give my respect to those who have earned it; to everyone else, I'm civil.

[–] benman46 9 years ago

I agree, I found the film disappointing as well.Though not a horse lover, I found the treatment of the animals quite unnecessary. Though I did find it a refreshing change to see Iceland used as it really is, rather than the alien environment used by Hollywood in films such as Prometheus. By the end of the film I was unsure what the director was trying to say, to me it was just a string of absurdities, and absurdity for its own sake tends to feel hollow. Some of the imagery was too obvious, such as the horse sex scene standing in for what Solveig would like Holbeinn to do to her. As you say the film was a missed opportunity.

[–] breningirl 9 years ago

I encouraged my teenage daughter (who is horse mad, and also off on holiday to Iceland quite soon) to watch this with me. Wish I'd read more about it first!!
I had to send her out of the room several times. Not for the faint-hearted, you have been warned.
That said, there were some positives - Iceland certainly looks beautiful and the horses were a joy to watch ( the ones that survived at least)

[–] murad23 9 years ago

Apparently the commenters do not know the difference between real life and film. Humans are shown harmed in at least half of all films

[–] DeganwySam 8 years ago

Was it Kolbeinn's pride which made him kill his horse, after the stallion mounted his prize mare? To me it was a shock ending for the innocent mare, I thought where's animal rights when you need them? Why not just release the mare back with the herd in the hills. Or have I missed something?

I enjoyed the film, the horses and scenery were fantastic.

[–] ivaxxavi 8 years ago

That's something I find really hard to understand and it happens in every comment section of a movie where horses/dogs/cats etc. are killed. People are fine with shooting, stabbing, strangling, beheading of humans but fictitious slaughter of animals always results in uproar and complaining. Really weird.

[–] b_a_k_i_s 8 years ago

Totally agree with you.

[–] eddaba 8 years ago

Well.... this film is based on a string of things that are all known to known to have happened in Iceland at some time. The stories would have been exaggerated over time...
The guy who saved his life by killing and crawling into his horse was a postman.
Humans have (and still do) killed (animals and humans alike) to save their pride and life...or for no reason at all. We are like that even though many (simple people?) don't realize that.

[–] Luvbarbaro 8 years ago

I wish I would have read this message board before watching this movie. I spend money & time to save horses in America. I was just ill watching the man shoot his beautiful mare for no reason. I turned it off immediately after that. Horrible movie. IMDB needs to put a big warning on this movie! It's not a comedy!