The Dark Horse

New Zealand filmmaker James Napier Robertson serves up an intelligent dramatization of the life of Genesis “Gen” Potini (subject of the 2003 documentary Dark Horse), a Maori speed-chess player who died in 2011. The film opens with Gen's (Cliff Curtis) release from a mental hospital into the care of his older brother Ariki (Wayne Hapi), who is part of a violent motorcycle gang. Ariki is father to a teenage son named Mana (James Rolleston), who Ariki is eager to have join the gang. Gen, who has a gift for chess, has begun volunteering as a chess mentor in a club for disadvantaged Maori youth, where his leadership role is strong enough to propel young players to a national championship. When Mana begins to show more interest in his uncle's chess club than in his father's bikers, this creates more problems for this already dysfunctional family. A sincere and moving true-life story that benefits from strong performances, this is highly recommended. (P. Hall)