Lean On Pete

I have seen this and think it is a very good film for Te Awamutu and surrounding areas, so by special arrangement with Mark Chamberlain we are pleased to be able to show it here. — Allan Webb

It's a powerful and moving coming of age, present-day western.

Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson arrives in Portland, Oregon with his single father Ray, both of them eager for a fresh start after a series of hard knocks.

While Ray descends into personal turmoil, Charley finds acceptance and camaraderie at a local racetrack where he lands a job caring for an aging Quarter Horse named Lean On Pete.

The horse's gruff owner Del Montgomery and his seasoned jockey Bonnie help Charley fill the void of his father's absenceuntil he discovers that Pete is bound for slaughter, prompting him to take extreme measures to spare his new friend's life.

Charley and Pete head out into the great unknown, embarking on an odyssey across the new American frontier in search of a loving aunt Charley hasn't seen in years.

They experience adventure and heartbreak in equal measure, but never lose their irrepressible hope and resiliency as they pursue their dream of finding a place they can call home.

It's hard to imagine anyone watching Lean On Pete and not rooting hard for Charley's wish to come true.