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Movie Review: Documentary brings back energy of horse racing
By Mary Lingwall
Today, the Kentucky Derby, along with the entire sport of horse racing, tends to be sidelined in the world of American sports. Filmmakers Brad and John Hennegan bring horse racing back to the forefront as an iconic American sport in their new documentary "The First Saturday in May."
Tracing the paths of six unique trainers each with dreams of the Derby, the Hennegan brothers have made much more than just a documentary about running horses. "The First Saturday in May" captures exactly what is so singularly special about horse racing in the world of sports; the winners aren't men or women, but horses. A combination of world-class athlete and beloved domesticated animal, racehorses give people something beautifully innocent and yet awesomely powerful to believe in (think Seabiscuit). The Hennegans' documentary is energy-charged with an eclectic, edgy score by the Ryan brothers (featuring pulse-quickening tunes like Les Savy Fav's "The Sweat Descends"). The offbeat, candid, endearing stories of these six teams of hopefuls will capture your heart (the late Barbaro is one of the six horses chronicled in the film), stir your imagination, and make you laugh till you cry. "The First Saturday in May" is one of the season's must-sees. The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely.
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