If you expecting Hollywood teen drama, murder and suspense then ‘Of Girls And Horses’ is not for you. But if you want a film that connects you with nature as you explore human relationships then you might want to sit and back and enjoy ‘Of Girls And Horses’ a film written, produced and directed by Monika Treut. Shot in the north of Germany ‘Of Girls And Horses’ is a true cinematic pleasure to watch.
This coming-of-age film stars German TV star Ceci Chuh as Alex, a rebellious young woman who is sent away to a horse farm in the remote oceanside of Germany. While grappling with her bad girl ways, she gradually becomes smitten with not only the horses but the resident riding instructor, Nina(Vanida Karun). Things become more complicated with the arrival of privileged and beautiful young equestrian Kathy(Alissa Wilms), and Alex must confront herself and her longing for love and connection. Rich Girl had a chance to chat with Monika about her film.
Vanida Karun in OF GIRLS AND HORSES-Courtesy of Wolfe Video
Ceci Chuh in OF GIRLS AND HORSES-Courtesy of Wolfe Video
Alissa Wilms in OF GIRLS AND HORSES-Courtesy of Wolfe Video
Rich Girl: What was your inspiration for the film?
Monika: Well as a young girl my friends and I would go out to the horse farm after school. We had a blast being with the horses, we hung out there grooming them and loving the way it made us feel.
Rich Girl: What was it about the experience that made it so special?
Monika: I think the horses gave us strength and they are very sensual creatures, and even to this day with my work and travel I don’t get that much time with then and I miss it. They truly have a calming effect.
Rich Girl: How did you develop the story?
Monika: I wrote a short outline first and then I scouted a location. So I drove all around and found a location in the north of Germany. And since this is a low budget film I wanted to be sure we had the right location. I especially loved the farmers and made them a part of the film because the film is about the horses and the farm, it’s about the connection with nature. After finding the location I wrote the second outline of only forty pages because I wanted to give the actors room to improvise. As you can see the film is not a thriller or drama it’s just showing life and the relationships of the women and the horses. We spent a lot of time on the sound because we wanted you to feel connected to the animals, we wanted the audience to hear the sound of the horses and get as close to the experience as possible.
Rich Girl: How did you choose your actors?
Monika: I am friends with Vanida Karun( who plays Nina) and I knew I wanted her to be in the film since she is an excellent horse rider and instructor. The other two actress Ceci Chuh and Alissa Wilms I found through the internet. Each girl had the real background of the characters, Alex (played by Ceci Chuh) came from a troubled background and Kathy(played by Alissa Wilms) comes from a privileged background so I liked that they could intimately relate to the characters I had envisioned.
Rich Girl: What do you want audiences to come away with after seeing the film?
Monika: I would like them to feel relaxed, this film is not a drama or thriller. I want them to enjoy nature, the images, the horses simply to enjoy the experience.
Monika Treut’s thank you to the LSF Hamburg.
Monika Treut is an iconic filmmaker and humanitarian who has been creating groundbreaking internationally known films, both narrative and documentary, for over forty years. Famous for her pioneering portrayals of LBGT communities and subcultures, as well as documentaries covering a vast range of subject matter, Treut has made over 20 films in both English and German. She has explored a diversity of topics from queer themed fiction and documentary films, to feminism and human rights issues including one woman’s effort to help street kids in Rio De Janeiro, to groundbreaking portrayals of sexual communities (Seduction: The Cruel Woman, My Father is Coming) and some of the earliest transgender portrayals (Max, Gendernauts) and documents of lesbian identity (Virgin Machine, Ghosted) in modern cinema. She has worked with and documented such diverse artists and performers as Annie Sprinkle, Werner Schroeter, and Camille Paglia. Of Girls and Horses is her most recent narrative film, and opened theatrically in Germany in 2014 to great acclaim and success.
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OF GIRLS AND HORSES debuts June 30th – across all digital platforms including iTunes and WolfeOnDemand.com, and on DVD via Wolfe Video and many major retailers.
