Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

This topic contains:

• details about Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron’s classification and consumer advice lines
• a link to the Classification Review Board’s decision
• a review of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron completed by Young Media Australia (YMA) on 16 July 2002.

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) and the associated consumer advice lines.

Link to the Classification Review Board’s decision

This film was originally classified PG by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. On appeal, the Classification Review Board changed the rating to G. The full decision of the Classification Review Board can be viewed on the OFLC website.

YMA review

This review of the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron contains the following information:

• a synopsis of the story
• use of violence
• material that may scare children
• sexual references, nudity, substances, coarse language
• the movie’s message
• overall comments

A synopsis of the story

This is the history of the Old West, an ageless time when horses ran wild and free, as told by Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron. The story starts at his birth and shows him growing from colt to mighty stallion, wild and reckless. He becomes the leader of the herd and takes responsibility for them, caring for and defending them against attack.

Spirit’s life changes dramatically one night when he sees a fire burning in the distance and he goes to investigate. His first encounter with man becomes a fight against oppression and a refusal to give in to man’s domination. He is left tied to a post for three days in the hot sun, without food or water. During this time a young Lakota Indian named Little Creek is also brought into the fort and tied to a post. At first Spirit is suspicious of Little Creek but comes to realise that he is different from the other ‘two legs’.

Together they escape and the story goes on to tell of their growing relationship. Little Creek takes him back to his village where he meets Rain a pretty mare who lives with the Indian people. Little Creek also tries to ride Spirit but when he throws him off too, Little Creek appreciates that Spirit should never be ridden by anyone and sets him free. At this time the Indian settlement is attacked by the cavalry and Spirit stays to defend the Indians. In the ensuing escape Rain falls into a fast flowing river and Spirit jumps in to save her. They both fall down white water rapids and Rain is badly injured.

Spirit is once again captured and taken to a rail road camp. He is made to pull a locomotive carrying sleepers with a pack of other horses but he manages to escape and causes chaos by releasing the horses, causing the locomotive to go into freefall. Spirit is in the path of the pursuing locomotive which eventually crashes into a building causing an explosion and a resulting forest fire. Spirit is now trapped in the fire but Little Creek comes and saves him.

Little Creek and Spirit return to the village where Rain is waiting for him. Little Creek says goodbye to ‘Spirit who could not be broken’ and with whom they both won their freedom. Spirit takes Rain back to meet his family.

Use of violence

• Spirit defends himself against humans by kicking and bucking.
• The cavalry attack the Indian village and rifles and axes are brandished but no-one is seen getting hurt.
• The mountain cat attacks the herd and Spirit fights it off.

Material that may scare children

There are some scenes that might disturb or scare children under the age of seven:

• At the start of the film when Spirit is being born, which is discreetly shown, the mother appears in distress.
• Spirit fighting with the mountain cat although neither get hurt
• Spirit being lassoed by men and pulled to the ground
• Spirit kicks man in the face
• Men attempt to brand Spirit with a hot iron but he kicks them away
• The colonel using spears and whip on Spirit
• Colonel aims to shoot at Spirit but is prevented by Little Creek
• Rain falling into the river and falling down the white river rapids with Spirit who tries to rescue her
• Horses on rail road hit with whips
• Locomotive rolling down towards Spirit
• Spirit trapped in the forest fire
• While trying to escape fire Spirit is caught by the chain that is still around his neck and could have been hanged except that Little Creek saves him.

School aged children might be upset by cruelty to Spirit.

Sexual references, nudity, substances, coarse language

The movie has very little of any of these elements.

The movie’s message

There are many messages in this film such as freedom and oppression but the main ‘take home message’ would be that to treat others with respect gains their love, whereas oppression and contempt breed hatred and hostility.

Values that parents may wish to encourage include:

• family bonds—caring, sharing and responsibility
• respect and tolerance of differences
• empathy shown between horses
• love and respect for nature.

Overall comments

Although this is an animated film, it is very watchable from an adult’s viewpoint. The theme of the arrogance and dominion of white man over all others has probably been done a fair bit; however this film is quite different as it is told from the horse’s viewpoint. The parallel is there between the treatment of the horse and the indigenous American people.

The fight for freedom comes through very strongly and is not diminished by the animation. The horses communicate by their own language and the story is narrated by the ‘voice’ of Spirit (Matt Damon). It is very well portrayed, the visual effects are excellent and the scene with Spirit escaping the locomotive and the ensuing forest fire is very exciting.

This is a film that could be seen by all ages with the proviso that children under five might be scared or upset by some of the scenes and would require some parental guidance.