The Dark Horse is a New Zealand drama movie that was released in 2014. The film is directed and co-written by James Napier Robertson.
The movie follows the real-life story of Genesis Potini, who was a one-time Maori speed-chess champion. Genesis is played by Cliff Curtis, who delivers a powerful and emotive performance in the leading role.
Genesis is a man who suffers from bi-polar disorder and has been in and out of mental institutions for most of his life. Despite his struggles with mental health, Genesis is a skilled chess player, and he uses the game to teach inner-city children in New Zealand.
Genesis is keen to help the children at the local chess club, who are struggling with personal issues and a lack of support and motivation. However, his good intentions are met with resistance from various people in the community, including his own gang-member brother, Ariki.
As the story unfolds, we see Genesis battle against prejudices and violence to save the chess club, his family, and ultimately himself. The film deals with themes of mental health, poverty, racism, and gang violence, and offers an insightful and poignant portrayal of a complex character and his community.
