War Horse Michael Morpurgo. Film/Book.

 
I cheated, yes I did. I watched the film then I read the story. Isn't it supposed to be the other way round? Oh well. I loved both of them and admit to having a bit of a cry when it seemed that Joey wasn't going to pull through. This is the second Morpurgo story that I have reviewed and I am already searching for the next one in keen anticipation. He is a wonderful writer. In a tv interview he talked about his motivation in writing War Horse to show how the second world war has torn the world apart and this comes across poignantly in the film with the massacre of human as well as animal life.
Morpurgo was in the Duke of York. He was asked if he was writing anything at that time. He told the man he had come across an old painting of a cavalry charge during the first world war.One or two of the horses were caught up on the barbed wire. Morpurgo explained that he was trying to write a story about this war seen through the eyes of a horse.......
 
Albert works on a farm for his parents in Devon and when his father goes to market looking for a horse to plough the land he comes home with an expensive but remarkable horse, not exactly what he wanted. Albert forms an incredible and moving attachment with Joey, trains him and basically worships the ground he treads on. Interestingly in the story Joey narrates and shows how intelligent animals are by expressing his thoughts and feelings. I loved that.    
 
With the onset of war, Ted the father sells Joey to the army surreptitiously and when the son discovers this a tear-stained Albert parts from his best friend, tying his father's war ribbons around his harness vowing that they will find each other again and they will be reunited for ever.     
 
Inevitably, Joey becomes one of the hundreds of thousands of  war horses that became associated with the war effort, massacred during battle with their riders, those brave soldiers who fought for our freedom. Joey has a number of owners and we follow his traumatic journey constantly wondering whether Albert is able to keep his promise. Albert signs up hoping that if he goes to France he can find Joey. So does he? We do know that Joey becomes seriously injured and it looks as if he won't make it. The book is more graphic at this point than the film surprisingly and the prognosis doesn't look good. You will have to read it to find out whether Morpurgo opted for a happy or sad ending.
 
Steven Spielberg directed the film which stars Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Tom Hiddlestone and one of my favourites, Emily Watson. It was filmed in Castle Combe, Wiltshire and the writer took on a role as one of the extras-Captain Arthur Budgett. The original painting of Joey hangs proudly in Iddesleigh village hall in Devon. Once again, to serve as a reminder of all the horses whose lives were also torn apart because of the destructive forces of countries at war! This is where Joey's story starts and ends. Farm Boy is the "reluctant" sequel that followed the success for Morpurgo. The stage adaption is currently on at the New London Theatre in Drury Lane near Holborn tube station.
michaelmurpurgo.org
warhorselondon.com  
farmsforchildren.org
 
 
 
Joey on stage.
 
 
 
 
ISBN: 978-4052-26660 available from amazon.co.uk/es
 
Copyright.This review must not be published without the consent of the author. August 2012.

                                          
 

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