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The Dark Horse
Film (Trailer and Excerpts) – 2014
The Dark Horse follows a Māori former chess champ who tries to "overcome prejudice and violence in the battle to save his struggling chess club, his family and ultimately, himself". Genesis Potini has a bipolar disorder. His nephew Mana (Boy star James Rolleston) faces being pressed into a gang. A near-unrecognisable Cliff Curtis won international acclaim as Potini. James Napier Robertson's second feature opened the 2014 NZ International Film Festiva. It scored six Moa awards, including Best Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actor (Rolleston). Overseas, it won many more. Dan Slevin writes about The Dark Horse here.
Bravery is contagious.– The tagline for this film
Key Cast & Crew
See all 72 credits
Acknowledgements
Inspired by Jim Marbrook's documentary Dark Horse
Dedicated to Genesis Potini's son Nopera Kenehi Potini
Financed in association with Fulcrum Media Finance, the NZ Film Commission, the Lottery Grants Board and NZ On Air
Music
Closing credits song 'If You Need Me' composed by Robert Bateman, Wilson Pickett and Sonny Sanders
Soundtrack features songs by Jackie Wilson, Beastwars and Lynyrd SkynyrdHirini Me
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