Max, a traumatised war veteran, struggles to find meaning to his life. After learning to retrain a damaged ex-racehorse, he finds hope and healing and the strength to continue on.

Interview with Director/Producer Nick Barkla

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

I was inspired by the story of a damaged war veteran who is healed by learning to work with a damaged ex-racehorse.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

It's visually stunning, with a moving central storyline of the healing powers that occur between a damaged human and horse.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I'm always looking for the universal theme in my work, more so than the personal. I'm excited and inspired by stories that tap into the human condition and things that resonate with all of us.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Given that the film is a documentary, we shot for five days with Max and Scott and then worked out the script after the shoot.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Audience and festival feedback has been great. It's moved people a lot at the St Kilda Film Festival, as well as the Lorne Film, Cause Film Festival (Best Film) and Heart of Gold Film Festival (Most Inspiring True Story).

Scott Brodie teaching a veteran in The Horses

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

It hasn't surprised me. If anything it has confirmed that the reason for taking on this film was the right one.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

The more people that see it the better. I feel like society has been through a lot of trauma recently, and a story about healing can only help people at this time.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Online distributors.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

To uplift people and make more people aware of the healing power of horses.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Can damaged horses help heal damaged people?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I'm currently completing a feature-length version of The Horses called The Healing, which focuses on Max and more veterans and horses. It's a film that was shot over four years and will be released in early 2021.

thehealing.com.au

Interview: June 2020

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

The Horses

Max, a traumatised war veteran, struggles to find meaning to his life. After learning to retrain a damaged ex-racehorse, he finds hope and healing and the strength to continue on.

Length: 12:00

Director: Nick Barkla

Producer: Nick Barkla

Writer: Nick Barkla

About the writer, director and producer:

NICK BARKLA is an Australian actor/writer/director/producer with 20 years experience in the entertainment industry. He has appeared in many TV, film and theatre productions, and has produced several films and documentaries. He is currently producing and directing the feature-length documentary The Healing, due for release early 2021.

Key cast: Max Streeter, Scott Brodie

Looking for: distributors

Facebook: Nick Barkla

Instagram: @nickbarkla

Hashtags used: #veterans, #PTSD, #mental health, #healing, #hope, #racehorses, #thoroughbreds, #equine therapy

Website: nickbarkla.com

Other: IMDb

Made in association with: Staunch Films

Funders: Self-funded

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Melbourne Documentary Film Festival June 30, 2020