The Dark Horse follows a speed chess champion as he adjusts to his new life and living with bipolar disorder after leaving an institution.
Cliff Curtis plays Genesis “Gen” Potini who has to adapt to being under his older brother Ariki’s custody once more. While Ariki plans to initiate Gen’s nephew Mana in to the local gang he is the leader of, Gen volunteers to coach the local Easter Knights chess club.
The trailer shows Gen’s optimism in trying to make the children in his community better chess players and show them and his nephew the world outside their neighborhood. Though Mana appears to be in awe of Gen and reluctant to follow his father, Ariki does not approve of what his brother is trying to do. You can watch the trailer and the new poster bellow.
The Dark Horse has already received recognition, winning the Audience Award at the Seattle, San Francisco and Rotterdam Film Festivals. Select theaters will show the movie starting on April 1.
Along with Curtis, The Dark Horse also features Wayne Happi as Ariki, James Rolleston as Mana, Krik Torrance and Miriama McDowell and was written and directed by James Napier. The film was inspired by the documentary “Dark Horse” by Jim Marcbrook.