The Dark Horse

[projekktor id=’23733′]

The Dark Horse is a New Zealand drama written and directed by James Napier Robertson. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014 and was a smash hit in its home nation winning six New Zealand Film Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. The film stars Cliff Curtis and James Rolleston.

Based upon a powerful true story, The Dark Horse is the uplifting portrait of a man searching for the courage to lead, despite his struggles with mental illness. The film features a stunning, award-winning performance by Cliff Curtis (Whale Rider, Blow, “Fear the Walking Dead”) as Genesis “Gen” Potini, a brilliant but troubled New Zealand chess champion who finds purpose by teaching underprivileged children about the rules of chess and life.

“Genesis was so mesmerizing, so truthful and so powerful,” Curtis recalls. “I was terrified at the prospect of taking on the role, but I was so inspired by who he was and what he’d done with his life that I thought that I could create something interesting and worthwhile.” The actor decided to go method and become Gen while filming. “I dressed up as my version of Gen. I put my Crocs on, and put my gums in, and shaved my head, and drank a dozen to two dozen beers a day to help put on as much weight as I could. And it became comfortable to me.”

The Dark Horse is rated 14A.