White Mane (Released by Janus Films, in association with the Criterion Collection)

In April, 2008 Criterion released three DVDs each with one award winning children's shorts for the first time from beautifully restored prints. In November 2008, Criterion's bare bones DVD of Albert Lamorisse's award winning 'White Mane' (1953) will be getting a new release, but this time 'White Mane' will be paired with Albert Lamorisse's award winning 'The Red Balloon' (1956).

This coupled DVD would be a wonderful present for any little child (young or old).

Again, from the total run time of just 74 minutes, nothing extra will be added outside of (one would hope) the brief printed liner notes for both found in the single DVD version, plus one theatrical trailer celebrating the 50 year restoration for both shorts.

The third short not in this new release, but available separately, is William Mason's 'Paddle to the Sea' (1966). This 28 minute children's short won Best Documentary Film at the International Children's Film Festival in 1968. You also might want to look into that one.

I hope you catch this deal. I wish I had.

I have seen this film several times in a theater or classroom and enjoyed it. But Criterion produced a much sharper image than I had ever seen before. We watched it with a woman who works with horses, and she was amazed at the horses in the film. The fighting scenes were excellent, and she marvelled at White Mane in the fire. The boy Falco is still a wonderful character to watch, pure and determined. Their escape into the water is tragic to watch. What joy when your previously enthusiastic pleasure increases through a fresh viewing.

White Mane is the name of a wild horse living in a barren region of Southern France, the leader of a herd of horses. Some "gauchos" try to capture him and do, for a time, but he escapes. He is seen by a young boy who eventually befriends him and brings him to his home, which he shares with an old man and a baby sister. The family has other pets, such as turtles and a flamingo. Unfortunately, the gauchos haven't given up their quest to capture the beautiful horse. This somewhat sad tale is lightened considerably by its beautiful photography and by its straightforward tone. It is told in the manner of a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, and would be suitable and recommended for children, with parental guidance, and adults.

A boy and a horse clash with greedy and dishonest adults. They go off into the sea and one hopes they find a better place (rather than dying).

A companion to the same director's classic "The Red Balloon," this exquisite film probably wouldn't be made for children today ... and that's a pity. Children, simply by being younger, smaller, and weaker than the adult world around them, are already well aware of cruelty. They all understand what it is to be bullied, to be targeted for being different, to have to fight when they'd rather just be left alone. "White Mane" presents this fact of life not brutally, or mercilessly -- but honestly.

And it offers more, as well. The lyrical beauty of the film, the gorgeous black & white photography, the astonishingly expressive face of the boy Folco, all remind us that if there's unfairness in the world, there's also something sublime & deeply moving in it as well -- if only we look for it & see it. And it offers the consolation of art, and of storytelling itself.

I understand the misgivings of some regarding the film's ending. It's ambiguous at best, a harsh reminder that the sensitive of this world are often hounded by those who don't (or won't) understand them, and thus do their best to destroy them. But children can't be protected by denying that sad fact. If anything, a film like this probably enables them to deal with it better.

Adult viewers will savor the poetry, but also shake their heads in doleful recognition. It's a poignant gem of a film, most highly recommended!