The Mustang is a 2019 American drama film written and directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre and produced by Robert Redford. It stars Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Mitchell, Gideon Adlon and Bruce Dern.
It tells the story of Roman Coleman (Schoenaerts), a prisoner with a violent history who shows little interest in rehabilitation until he gets involved in a program to train wild mustangs. He bonds with a particularly difficult horse and gradually becomes friends with his fellow trainers.
The film is based on a real program in the Nevada prison system.
Featured Tropes
- Bittersweet Ending: Roman Coleman finds inner peace and reconnects with his humanity, but at the cost of his own freedom and the life of his horse, Marquis.
- Credits Montage: The end credits feature a montage of Real Life prisoners and the horses they have trained.
- Horsing Around: All the horses present challenges to the prisoners, which most of them relish.
- Moody Mount: Roman's horse, Marcus, is difficult to train.
- Moody Trailer Cover Song: Leonard Cohen's "Avalanche", although it's the song itself and not a cover, since it's already moody by itself.
- Prison: The film takes place almost entirely in prison.
- Redemption Quest: Roman comes to terms with his past as he learns to love and protect his horse.
- Relationship Reveal: It's a first unclear who the young woman visiting Roman is, until she reveals she is his daughter.