War Horse: The Real Story

War Horse: The Real Story is a 2012 war documentary film presented by the British actor, Russell Boulter, known for his roles in various dramas like 'The Bill'. The film also features Mark Evans, a British television presenter known for his work on science and nature documentaries. This documentary does not contain dramatic reconstructions, acting, or fictions; rather, it uncovers the heartfelt narratives of the unsung heroes - the horses - that were involved in the devastating realities of World War I.

This gripping documentary evocatively uncovers the tragic and an undiscovered facet of warfare by tracing the journey of thoroughbred horses across Great Britain, to the harsh battlefields of the Western Front during the 'Great War'. The film meticulously investigates the important but often overlooked narrative about how horses were utilized in global warfare, and the unfathomable perils they endured for their human allies.

At the outset of this film, viewers are presented with the serenity of England's green pastures, functioning as the birthplace of these brave creatures. The documentary then navigates these horses' transition from tranquil fields to treacherous warzones. The film presents the condition that existed a century ago - when horses were not simply farm or domestic animals but predominant sources of locomotion for logistics - indispensable in times of war and conflict.

In its delineation of the horses’ wartime experiences, War Horse: The Real Story draws upon a wide array of historical resources, including diaries, letters, photographs and military communication documents from the age. It is in the review of these historical sources that the notable role of Russell Boulter and Mark Evans comes into focus. Boulter acts as the main narrator, unearthing and dissecting facts with his quintessentially British calm demeanor. Meanwhile, Evans contributes his expert views, giving the audience scientific and historical context about various aspects and implication of the warhorse history.

As the documentary unfolds, it tells the unbelievably daunting journey of approximately one million horses that participated in the War. The film elucidates how these animals were subjected to nerve-wracking conditions - forced to carry heavy artillery loads, walk on muddy and challenging terrains, endure the deafening sounds of mortar shells, and survive in grounds that were always under the threat of death and devastation.

What makes War Horse: The Real Story heart-rending is its depiction of relationships between horses and their human caretakers. Docile and fiercely loyal, these animals presented a modicum of comfort, companionship, and emotional respite to the soldiers amidst the brutality of warfare. For some soldiers, these horses were the embodiment of home and normalcy in a foreign land gripped by chaos and destruction.

The documentary excavates stories where soldiers, in the absence of their families and dear ones, formed deep bonds with their animal companions. This emotional human-animal narrative provides an aspect of war that is significantly different from the death and destruction usually portrayed. It portrays empathy and compassion in the most unlikely circumstances.

However, not all the stories narrated have a happy ending, and inevitably, viewers are drawn into many heartrending narratives about the fate of these valiant horses. The documentary does not shy away from the uncomfortable truth about the shockingly low number of horses that were fortunate enough to return home at the end of the war.

In its raw and realistic portrayal, War Horse: The Real Story provides a deep, comprehensive, and empathetic point of view about a crucial element of World War I history that is often overshadowed by the focus on human suffering and heroism. This documentary, directed by award-winning director George Pagliero, symbolically acknowledges and commemorates the sacrifices and resilience of these creatures who stood as the unsung heroes in the history of human warfare.

War Horse: The Real Story is a must-watch film for everyone, irrespective of whether they are history enthusiasts, animal lovers, or ordinary viewers. It tickles one's emotions and prompts introspection regarding humanity, selflessness, and survival in the direst of circumstances. The film successfully reminds us of the vast extent to which man's best friend, the horse, served and sacrificed in one of the darkest periods of human history.