The Dark Horse
classified 15Please note: This was screened in April 2015
An inspiring true story based on the life of a charismatic, brilliant but little-known New Zealand hero and chess champion – Genesis Potini, otherwise known as Gen, who battled severe bipolar disorder. Featuring a heart-piercing lead performance from Cliff Curtis, this emotionally-charged yet exhilarating drama follows Gen after being released from a psychiatric ward for one more chance at life. Needing a purpose and a reason to get out of the house (which he shares with his brother and nephew, who are both slipping deeper into a world of crime), he finds purpose and hope coaching a motley crew of at-risk kids. A huge hit in Australia and New Zealand, it doesn’t romanticise mental illness or adhere to any triumph over adversity conventions, and it’s all the better for it.