Equestrians can be a tough crowd when it comes to movies involving horses, but we think the new sports documentary The Polo Kid passes the test. Credit for this goes to director Nathaniel McCullagh, who right away puts the riders and horses front and center in his beautiful and touching film.
We found ourselves rooting for The Polo Kid, thirteen year old Santi Torres, before the beginning credits even began to roll. Watching Santi in the saddle, as he flat-out gallops across a polo field in the film’s opening scene, it becomes immediately apparent that this is a kid who was, quite simply, born to ride.
Shot on location in the U.S., Argentina, and Mexico, The Polo Kid profiles Santi and his family as they work, at times against the odds, to support his dream of becoming an American polo star. The film introduces us to the world of competitive polo in the U.S. and, in greater detail, shows the hard work, sacrifices, and sense of community that exist beneath the surface of what is perceived as one of the world’s most elite sports.
The Polo Kid also features some of the world’s best polo players, including Adolfo Cambiaso, Mariano Aguerre, and international polo player/Ralph Lauren model/heartthrob Nacho Figueras. We loved these interviews, but it was the riding that left us in awe of the power, speed, and technical ability of these world class riders and their ponies.
A small run theatrical release of the film is expected in the UK and The Polo Kid is available for download at Amazon.com. DVD’s can be purchased online at the film’s website.
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Oh darn wish I lived in the Uk I would love to see that movie but maybe I will buy it :)
oh wow, is this the Torres’ from Santa Barbara? I shared a barn with them. They were a very driven family. Santiago was very young at the time, but I remember Miguelito because he was “going with” one of my students at the time, lol.