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Parents' Guide to

Of Girls and Horses

By Grace Montgomery, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Subtitled lesbian coming-of-age film has sex, drinking.

Movie NR 2014 82 minutes
Of Girls and Horses Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Alex (Ceci Schmitz-Chuh) is sent by her adoptive mother to be an intern at a horse ranch after being caught selling and taking drugs. The sullen, angry teen, who cuts herself to cope, slowly starts to open up as Nina (Vanida Karun), a veteran horse trainer, begins to show her how to understand horses. When Kathy (Alissa Wilms), an upper-class girl, shows up with her horse on holiday, Alex is struck with jealousy at the easy bond between Kathy and Nina. But while Nina deals with managing her long-distance relationship with her girlfriend, the two teens begin to form a deep friendship that slowly blossoms into love.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

OF GIRLS AND HORSES is a visual ode to the German countryside. The film lingers on small, subtle moments such as horses grazing in a field or Alex's face as she struggles with unhappiness. It's beautiful and engrossing. The film also does a lovely job of portraying lesbian relationships with no judgment and little fuss. The characters' choice of partners isn't an issue. Instead, the focus is on the small nuances that make up a relationship or the quiet beginnings of love. And Ceci Schmitz-Chuh does an impressive job showing her inner turmoil with little dialogue.

Unfortunately, there's simply not enough meat to make this a truly great film. It feels like a short film that was stretched to a full-length feature. Too much time, in fact, is spent panning the landscape or watching the daily routine in the horse barn. It needs a bit more depth to keep the viewer engaged for the entire film. With that being said, it's still a beautiful film that mature teens and adults will enjoy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about self-harm. Why do you think some people turn to cutting and other forms of self-harm? What can you do if you want to hurt yourself or if someone you know is hurting him or herself?

  • Why do you think working with animals helps so many people?

  • Kathy and Alex are very different. Why do you think they formed such a close bond?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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