Euros Lyn’s Dream Horse is based on a true story and following a period of lockdown and pandemic blues, it gallops into cinemas on 4th June.
The film tells the inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely racehorse bred by small-town bartender Jan Vokes (played by Toni Collette).
With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbours to chip in their meagre earnings to help raise Dream and compete with the racing elites.
Their investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks and becomes a beacon of hope in their struggling community.
Owen Teale, a celebrated actor from Wales, who is seen notably in series like Line Of Duty and Games Of Thrones, plays the real-life character of Brian Vokes – whom he has also met in real life. Going by the feel and look, it certainly seems quite authentic.
Speaking more about the preparation of his role, he explains:
“You have to get the humour, all the other things, but you can’t make it cheap, you can’t comment on them, you can’t stand outside the people you have to be honest and say this is me – at this moment I am Brian,” he says.
Commenting further, he says:
“I was able to look at my uncles and my grandfather, who was a gamekeeper on the Margam Estate back in the day and they lived on a smallholding with the chickens and the gun, it wasn’t my life but it in my DNA a little bit I think, and you draw on that
“And there’s that wicked look in his eye, Brian, he’s a hell of a boy. As much as I was able to take Brian, I was thinking of people in my life.”
Sharing a few words about the importance of presenting such a film whilst battling a pandemic, Mr Teale says:
“This film has been released at a time where people needed (more than ever) a simple, honest story of an underdog, womanhood, overcoming adversity, class and elitism. The group of people had a moment in the sun where everybody is looking at them and it’s such an inspiring story.
That woman (Jan), with nothing, made Dream Alliance happen. So come to the cinema and be inspired. It’s simple and wonderful.”
Dream Horse releases in cinemas from 4th June.
