The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse is a compelling 2014 drama from New Zealand, boasting stellar performances by Cliff Curtis, James Rolleston, and Kirk Torrance. This gem of a film unusually combines elements of a sports drama, a mental health-focused narrative, and an intimate study of Maori life in New Zealand - all wrapped into one impressively engaging movie.

The film takes its title both from its primary protagonist and from the unexpected plotline. Cliff Curtis plays Genesis 'Gen' Potini, a real-life figure known within New Zealand’s chess community. Gen is the "Dark Horse" of the story, and the film charts his journey from unsettled beginnings towards a sense of purpose and achievement.

At the film's outset, Gen, who suffers from bipolar disorder and has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital, is living a rather unstable life. Dealing with personal turmoil while wrestling with his own demons, Gen's character is fragile yet fascinating, and Cliff Curtis brilliantly portrays the character's enduring spirit. Clearly affected by his condition and still processing the trauma of his brother's violent lifestyle, Gen nevertheless displays an unmatched passion for chess and an incredible knack for seeing potential in the most overlooked places.

James Rolleston, best known for his breakthrough performance in Taika Waititi's "Boy," plays Mana, Gen's nephew. Mana is a young Maori boy who is caught in the crossfires of a gang-ordinated lifestyle led by his father, Ariki. Mana’s father, portrayed by Wayne Hapi, plans for Mana to be ‘patched’ into the gang, unbeknownst to the dangers it poses to his young life. Rolleston's depiction of this quiet, thoughtful young man navigating such a brutal world creates a haunting and emotionally engaging narrative arc.

Tormented by their troubled lives, both uncle and nephew find solitaire in an unconventional setting - a community chess club, which Gen helps to reestablish and foster. The club, filled with underprivileged children, becomes a refuge from the violence and unpredictability that define their worlds. It also becomes a platform for our protagonists to overwrite their lives' given narratives, thus adding not just a ray of hope, but also an element of suspense to the unfolding narrative.

Kirk Torrance, a former New Zealander Commonwealth Games representative himself, plays the role of Noble, a supportive friend who aids Gen in his quest to rebuild the chess club, train the youngsters and prepare them for the National Chess Championships in Auckland.

Within this narrative, the movie uses the game of chess itself as both a metaphor and a transformative tool. Through it, the children are able to learn discipline, strategy, self-esteem, and the idea that life, much like chess, requires careful planning and tactical thinking.

In its structure, The Dark Horse reads like a classic underdog tale but delves much deeper than the usual clichés. Director James Napier Robertson manages to paint a sharply realistic portrait of life in New Zealand for the struggling Maori community, showcasing how they grapple with infant gang culture and mental health illnesses. The screenplay by Robertson sensitively handles Gen’s mental health condition, showing the impact on the individual and the community around them, thus giving the movie a strong humanistic touch.

Cliff Curtis, a highly versatile actor known to morph seamlessly into his characters, gives without a doubt one of his most heartfelt performances as Gen. He convincingly plays a man at once vulnerable and determined, fighting not just his personal battles but also striving to provide a safer alternative for disenfranchised youth.

The Dark Horse talks volumes about survival, resilience, and redemption, quietly emphasizing the importance of community and the power of mentorship. Despite centering around a game of chess, the film offers viewers no cliché about 'playing the game of life'. Instead, it opts to offer an emotionally wrenching, brutal yet compassionate look at its protagonists' lives, making it a compelling and memorable cinematic experience that is likely to stay with audiences long after the credits roll.

It’s an underdog coming-of-age story which builds on intensity and pays off emotionally at the end. The Dark Horse is about much more than chess; it's about finding light in dark corners, about combating your demons and emerging victorious.