A Fine Step
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A Fine Step
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that A Fine Step is a family drama about horses, loyalty, and money. There are some perilous moments when a man is injured and a teenage girl is left alone in the countryside and very minor profanity ("hell" and "damn"). There are mentions of a mother who died after an illness. Overall there are some mature issues concerning loss, grieving, and second chances, with positive messages about discipline, diligence, and family loyalty, and especially a passion for horses, their care, and their treatment. Better for older tweens and teens who can handle the complex family issues, but a thoughtful meditation on horses, community, and grieving.
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What's the Story?
Championship rider Cal Masterson (Luke Perry) has suffered an injury that likely will prevent him from ever riding horses again. But with the help of a young girl and neighbor Claire (Anna Claire Sneed) and the daughter of a powerful, often ruthless businessman, he finds an unlikely source of inspiration and strength to help him continue working with horses, even if it's in new ways he never expected.
Is It Any Good?
A FINE STEP is a well-shot, thoughtful meditation on passion for horses and the complicated ways in which we work through grief. Through these subjects a number of interesting relationships play out -- between fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, businessmen and the communities they exploit -- and the film examines the unexpected ways communities take shape. It has some heavy themes, such as the loss of a parent and the grieving process, and it has a tentative, somber mood that can sometimes feel overwrought. But mature teens with a love of horses, particularly the Paso Fino breed, and their care and treatment may find this right up their alley.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whom animals "belong" to. Do you think people can really own animals? Why, or why not?
Fandango means something different to each person in the film. Which relationship to the horse do you think was most respectful, and why?
The film has a powerful message about grieving different kinds of loss in different ways. Have you ever had to grieve the loss of a person or experience? What was it like? How did you cope?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 24, 2014
- Cast: Luke Perry, Armand Assante
- Director: Jonathan Meyers
- Studio: Anderson Digital
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Friendship, Horses and Farm Animals
- Run time: 111 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: Rated PG for thematic elements, language and some peril
- Last updated: April 1, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Black Beauty (1946)
Adaptation focuses on young girl and romance, not the horse.
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National Velvet
Great family movie; even better for horse lovers.
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Misty of Chincoteague
A must for every horse lover's library.
For kids who love horses
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