Libramedi Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Atreyu_II Albert Lamorisse is mostly known for his beloved classic 'The Red Balloon', but before that he made this 'White Mane', which is almost as good. Although 'White Mane' is not absolutely perfect, it certainly is and feels authentic. I could say this is a must for anyone who loves horses. It is, that I can't deny. But in my book one doesn't necessarily have to love horses to enjoy this. It's all a matter of liking this sort of films.This short film is about a wild stallion in a wild region of France and his friendship with a fearless and adventurous young boy. The film tells how they meet and how they develop their friendship. This boy becomes the only human really worthy of the stallion's trust.The beauty of the cinematography is one of the best things about this. What we see is pure and natural, a "wilder" France not often seen in movies (that is, as far as I know). The boy is wonderfully portrayed by Alain Emery. The boy and the stallion have a perfect chemistry.This should definitely be on Top 250.

RainDogJr So, Lamorisse's (I'm just reading he created the game "Risk", now that's a piece of information!) WHITE MANE is older, and less famous (and less awarded. It's pretty unique the beginning of THE RED BALLOON with the listing of all of its awards [8 in total]. Here the listing is composed of only 2 awards), than his THE RED BALLOON (three years older, 1953 and 1956) but in the Janus Films DVD they don't come in a chronological order, as THE RED BALLOON is pretty much the main attraction. I, sort of, respected the order of the DVD and watched first THE RED BALLOON, so I was like, after watching WHITE MANE, "this is pretty much like a remake of THE RED BALLOON, only that here we don't have balloons but wild horses"…yes, both are quite similar in terms of the plot. I think this could have been so much profound and touching with its same basic plot. One of the complaints of some other IMDb users about THE RED BALLOON is its thin plot for a whole half hour, but I didn't find in that a problem as the film is charming and funny with the simple adventures of a kid and his balloon, and for me it never felt overlong. However, I did feel that problem in WHITE MANE. It's even a bit boring at times, and I really think something is missing, I mean the thing is there with the kid (a fisherman from the south of France) who becomes the friend of a wild horse (this horse, White Mane, is a real definition of a wild horse. And is worth to mention that we have a sequence, like 3 minutes, of a horse fight... pretty strange) and the bullies (that certainly just won't stop in their way of, in this case, prove that no horse can be a "rebel" with humans) near them but like I said, something is missing, maybe something in the vein of its great, touching and meaningful ending.

zetes I was introduced to Albert Lamorisse's wonderful The Red Balloon way back in grade school, and it's just something I never forgot. It was the first French film I ever saw, though I didn't know that at the time. It's too bad that Lamorisse didn't make this earlier film without dialogue, as well, because it would be just as well known as its brother. It has so little dialogue and narration as it is, it's just a shame Lamorisse didn't consider the universality that a lack of dialogue would give the film. I think I might even like White Mane a tad better than The Red Balloon. The simple story is about a wild stallion named White Mane who is being hunted by a gang of ranchers. The hunt is observed by a young boy (Alain Emery), who becomes fascinated with the horse. When the ranchers fail to capture White Mane, the boy goes after him. Lamorisse began his film-making career as a documentarian, and this film reminds me a lot of some of the faux-documentaries made by Robert J. Flaherty, particularly Louisiana Story. The black and white cinematography is some of the most gorgeous I've ever seen. If not for an abrupt and unsatisfying ending, this would rank among my favorite films ever.

lionel-libson-1 In the mid-fifties, Albert Lamorisse produced two beautiful, but strangely distant films, "The RedBalloon" and "White Mane". "Red Balloon" has been available and remained somewhat popular, while "White Mane" all but disappeared. Its re-emergence is welcome, as it offers intensely compelling black and white imagery, cinematography that is a cross between Ansel Adams and Atget, in its rich tones, dramatic light, and epic feel.Red Balloon, offers an interesting contrast. Paris is all muted earth tones and grays, with the balloons offering the only vivid colors. It is also interesting to remember that World War II was less than a decade earlier.Little Pascal, the director's son, is seen in both films, always appealing never "cute", but somehow distant. We don't really know him except as "the little boy".The two films are wonderful artifacts from a time when film was more art than marketing.