The stars unite with Will Poulter, Diego Calva, and Sasha Calle in Daniel Minahan's evocative 1950s romantic drama, a tapestry of secret desires and societal constraints woven with exquisite finesse. 'On Swift Horses' begins with a poignant juxtaposition: the intimacy of sex and the enigmatic allure of a deck of cards. Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones), lost in the throes of passion with Lee (Will Poulter), a soldier on respite from the Korean War, paints a picture of fleeting bliss. Meanwhile, Julius (Jacob Elordi), Lee's brother, freshly discharged from the battlefield, treks towards Kansas, armed only with his baggage and a deck of cards, emblematic of chance and uncertainty.
As Christmas nears, Lee yearns for Muriel's hand in marriage, yet her silence echoes through their idyllic moments. Their laughter-filled days are mirrored in the cozy confines of Muriel's inherited homestead, a sanctuary brimming with holiday cheer and dreams of familial bliss. But Lee's visions of California sunshine, a utopia where Muriel and Julius would join him post-war, dance on the precipice of fantasy.
'On Swift Horses' is a cinematic ode to the grand romantic dramas that once graced Hollywood's golden era. Under the expert guidance of director Daniel Minahan, a seasoned veteran of the small screen ('Six Feet Under,' 'Fellow Travelers'), each frame bursts with breathtaking vistas and vibrant hues, immersing us in a bygone era where space stretched wide and America pulsed with the promise of tomorrow.
Adapted from Shannon Pufahl's poignant novel, this film weaves a complex love triangle into a tapestry of human emotion, intricate and profound. Muriel, bound to Lee yet yearning for Julius' enigmatic embrace, finds herself in a web of conflicting affections. Julius, his own heart a tangled maze of brotherly devotion and unspoken longing, embarks on a tumultuous romance with Henry (Diego Calva), their bond igniting a fiery passion amidst the neon glow of Las Vegas.
While Muriel seeks solace in the thrill of horse racing, Julius indulges in the vice of cards, each chasing their own form of danger. Muriel's double life, hidden beneath the veil of domesticity, teeters on the brink of exposure, her secret rendezvous with neighbor Sandra (Sasha Calle) a testament to her bravery amidst societal stigma. Sandra, a proud lesbian unafraid to embrace her identity, stands as a beacon of resilience in a world that would rather turn a blind eye.
Jacob Elordi delivers a performance that showcases his depth and vulnerability, Julius' tender moments with Calva's Henry a symphony of sensual exploration in a dreamlike motel oasis. Calva, following his mesmerizing turn in 'Babylon,' proves he's just warming up, his talent a boundless wellspring.
Daisy Edgar-Jones, in a role that rivals her stellar performance in 'Normal People,' portrays Muriel with a quiet intensity, her every nuance a whisper of the turmoil within. Poulter, as Lee, embodies the archetype of the 1950s husband, his comedic prowess on full display as he navigates the rigid constructs of the era. And Sasha Calle's Sandra, a character of quiet strength, dares the world to see her as she truly is.
'On Swift Horses' is a testament to the myriad forms love assumes, the tapestry of lives we weave, and the myriad paths that lead to home. It's a cinematic masterpiece, poignant and poignantly beautiful, a cinematic odyssey that begs to be savored on the grandest of screens, reigniting our love for the romantic epics of yesteryear.
