Can hope and love overcome incredulity and the difficulties of reality? The new film "The Horse Boy" tries to answer this question as it documents a family's journey to Mongolia to find a cure for its mentally challenged son, Rowan.
From first-time director Michel Scott, "The Horse Boy" is based on a novel written by Rowan's father Rupert Isaacson. The film tells the tale of two-year-old Rowan, who suffers from autism, a neurological disorder resulting in impaired social skills and an inability to communicate with others. As a result, Rowan isolates himself from his parents and peers, is subject to unendurable, endless temper tantrums and refuses to use the bathroom properly. One day Rowan runs to the neighbor's yard and has his first encounter with a horse. To his family's amazement, Rowan calmly begins to speak comprehensibly when he sits atop the animal.
After noticing that Rowan is more tranquil around the horse, Rupert and his wife decide to travel to Mongolia in search of a group of shamanic peoples they hear may be able to cure their son. The Isaacson family journeys through Mongolia on horseback looking for these shamans, who perform rituals on Rowan to try to cure his autistic tendencies.
The Isaacsons know that their journey could cause Rowan more stress and worsen his condition and that the shamans may not be able to help them, but they set off regardless. With hope and love on their side, the Isaacsons embark on an intense journey that proves to audiences the importance of an open mind in the face of difficulty. As Rowan's behavioral problems wax and wane, his parents often second guess their faith in the shamans' treatments and whether or not the trip is worthwhile. Despite the obstacles in their way, they manage to maintain their close family bonds and belief in the common nature of all people.
‘Horse Boy' is surprisingly well-produced, despite the inherent challenges of filming the majority of the scenes on horseback and having a screaming child at the heart of the film. The documentary drags at times because of the lengthy scenes in Mongolia , which often lack focus. Toward the middle of the documentary, the plot waits around for the Shamans to cure Rowan.
While the film is slow at times, it succeeds in communicating its heartwarming message: the importance of family. The Isaacsons show a unity throughout the film that is absolutely touching. Each scene captures the truth and beauty the family members find through their quest for a cure for Rowan. The film sheds new light on what it is like to raise an autistic child. The Isaacsons show how one family's hope and love help them accept their son's disorder.
Rowan's parents, as well as audiences, experience a dramatic change in perspective as the journey progresses. At the beginning, the parents are skeptical of the shamanic methods. As Rowan shows some initial signs of improvement, they become more open to the idea of alternative methods of healing.
The most inspiring theme in the documentary is the parents' love for their son and their dedication to healing him. Not everyone would bring a child with special needs on a wild goose chase across Mongolia. The favorable light in which the parents are presented could have something to do with the fact that Rupert, the father, had such an integral role in the film's production. This does not ultimately take away from the inspiring physical and emotional journey the Isaacson's go through to heal their son.
A revolutionary concept is central to this film — perhaps society shouldn't distinguish people with mental illnesses or special needs as "sick." As the Isaacson family's story proves, we should reconsider how we judge and label others.
