All the Wild Horses (2017) Reviews

• Raw and Real

  rachelannland2018-08-20

  Ivo Marloh has done a splendid job documenting the World's Longest Horse Race, the Mongol Derby. Having completed this race in 2017, I can honestly say how well this film shows the true challenges of the adventure. The competitors all show grit just to make it to the starting line. Those that actually ride all of the 1000km and cross the finish line in one piece are few and far between. Being able to follow some of these brave men and women along their journey in All the Wild Horses is priceless. I loved the film and how it captured the iron will of Devan Horn, the compassion of Erik Cooper, and the honest horsemanship of Monde Kanyana. Well done Ivo!

• The worlds toughest horse race from a unique perspective

  jameshubbard-795542018-08-20

  Having been fortunate enough to experience this event as member of the crew I can say Ivo Marloh has really captured the spirit of this gruelling race and the stories of the riders, all from the unique perspective of a rider! If you are a rider, adventurer, explorer, sportsperson or traveller make sure you see it!

• Beautiful and Entertaining - Full Marks All Round

  t-xy2018-05-01

  This a beautifully made film following the riders in a roughly 1000 km distance race across the wide open steppes of Mongolia. And they are riding a succession of native horses, no bigger than the average child's pony in most Western countries, and nowhere near as well schooled and behaved as most riding horses we Westerners are used to. The film is edited from footage shot during three races (if memory serves) in different years and presented as one race. However, this fact is mentioned and it really doesn't make the film any less interesting or enjoyable. The race is ridden in stages, the riders staying with native families in their gers overnight before continuing their adventure on a fresh horse in the morning. The films gives a little bit of background information about the various participant - horsepeople from all corners of the world: There are the two Irish racing jockeys, a South African horse whisperer, an American professional girl, an easy going Dutchman and various other characters. Some are in it to win it, others for the experience alone. But make no mistake, this is not about the prize (any prizes are in kind, no big cash sums here), it's about the adventure. All participants have to deal with various setbacks, some little mishaps, others more serious accidents with injuries. After all, the horses they get to ride are the half wild animals of the Mongolian herders, which live wild and roam the endless grasslands for much of the year, and which are rounded up only a few days before they are needed for the race. Much of the film is filmed from horseback, the filmmaker having participated in the race several times. The moment when the horses start bucking and the screen goes black, followed by the one single spoken word that surely would escape every seasoned horseman/woman in this situation (the f-word, what else?) is epic. And made for a huge laugh at the screening where I was lucky enough to see the film. It's really worth seeing this on the big screen, the wide open spaces of Mongolia are absolutely mindblowing. This is a stunning film, narrated with a good sense of humour and a goodly measure of compassion by a man who's been there and done it all himself. Several times over. Loved it when I saw it, will definitely try and watch it again.

• Takes you on a ride from the start!

  travisjpharmd2018-08-21

  Superbly done! I felt captivated from the start. This film does a great job of following race contestants, and feeling connected to such an otherworldly place. I felt like a virtual participant in a great adventure. I was fully entertained from start to finish. What more can you ask of a film? Mongolia is now a destination on my bucket list.

• An absolutely brilliant film

  pacieplak2018-08-21

  An astonishingly beautiful and amazingly done film. Maloh manages to capture the drama, tension and ambition of the race but also the vulnerability of some of the participants. Always subtle, he hints at the different experiences that led them to take up the challenge. The interactions between the racers and Mongolians are marked by polite awkwardness, which Maloh's camera catches with subtlety but without judgement. It's great to see a film that moves fast and keeps you on the edge of your seat but, at the same time, manages to truly engage with its characters and give them time to develop before your eyes. Brilliant.