The Mustang 2019

As a helicopter swoops in, thousands of wild mustangs are herded together, their fate sealed as they’re taken from the open range to address the issue of overpopulation. A small fraction of these untamed creatures - a few hundred strong - is then whisked away to prison yards, where they’ll be broken and eventually sold off to support the program.

Roman Coleman (character name), a man with a troubled past, finds himself transferred to a Nevada penitentiary, where he’s summoned by a psychologist for an interview. His reluctance to engage with others stems from his troubled history, which includes leaving behind a domestic partner who remains severely brain damaged as a result of one of Roman’s violent outbursts. As such, he’s struggled to reintegrate into society, preferring the isolation of solitary confinement.

Roman’s life takes another unexpected turn when his teenage daughter Martha (character name) pays him an unannounced visit, seeking his signature on some crucial documents. Her departure marks the beginning of a new chapter in Roman’s life, as he’s forced to confront the consequences of his actions and consider the possibility of redemption.

As part of his sentence, Roman is assigned to perform outdoor maintenance duties - a task that allows him to escape the confines of the prison yard. It’s here that he’s first spotted interacting with a mustang deemed too wild for training, an act that earns him a spot in Myles’ rehabilitation program.

In this program, Roman is paired with a specific horse and given 12 weeks to train it - all part of a plan to eventually sell the trained animals at auction. Initially struggling to connect with his assigned mustang, Marquis, Roman finds himself under the guidance of Henry, an inmate renowned for his exceptional horse-training skills.

As Roman’s training progresses, he forms a bond not only with Marquis but also with Henry, who becomes something of a mentor to him. This newfound sense of purpose and belonging is short-lived, however, as Martha returns with another request - this time seeking Roman’s initials on every page of an important document. Her motives are revealed when she reveals her plan to sell their family home, left to them by Roman’s mother, in order to secure a better life for herself.

Roman’s reaction to this news is telling, as he struggles to come to terms with his daughter’s desire to leave him behind. His anger and frustration over this situation begin to bleed into his interactions with Marquis, ultimately leading to a loss of temper that results in Roman being kicked out of the program and sent to solitary confinement.

Just as Roman begins to settle into his new surroundings, a sudden thunderstorm brews on the horizon, prompting the horse-training inmates to be woken and tasked with moving their equine companions to safety. It’s during this chaotic period that Roman seizes the opportunity to redeem himself, ultimately earning his way back into the training program.

Once Roman has returned to his cell, he finds himself at odds with his cellmate Dan, an addict who blackmails him into smuggling horse tranquilizers - a move that Henry had been involved in. The program suffers a devastating blow when Dan murders Henry in cold blood, seeking revenge for being outsmarted by the older inmate.

Roman’s anger boils over as he retaliates against Dan, rendering the man unconscious before alerting the authorities to his actions. As the dust settles, Roman is left to confront the consequences of his choices, forced to weigh his desire for redemption against the harsh realities of life behind bars.

As the day of reckoning arrives in the form of an auction, Roman extends an olive branch to Martha, inviting her to join him with the hope of rekindling their connection. The prospect of a more harmonious union hangs precariously in the balance as Roman presents Marquis to the assembled crowd of bidders. However, his attention is suddenly diverted when he realizes Martha’s absence, leaving him feeling isolated and vulnerable.

This lapse in focus proves calamitous, as Marquis becomes spooked by the ominous hum of a hovering helicopter, sending Roman tumbling off his mount and nearly becoming an unwitting participant in a chaotic stampede as the other trainers scramble to restrain the errant stallion.

As the dust settles on this unfortunate incident, Roman receives a crushing blow from Myles: Marquis has been deemed unsuitable for training and will be met with a mercy killing. Seizing the opportunity presented by the tempestuous weather that has left the prison gates in disarray, Roman takes advantage of the chaos to orchestrate an daring escape for his beloved Marquis.

Time passes, and Roman’s world is turned upside down once more when he receives a heartfelt letter from Martha, acknowledging her father’s stubborn refusal to leave the confines of his cell. The letter also contains a poignant photograph of Martha cradling their newborn grandson, with the promise that she will facilitate an introduction during her next visit. As Roman finishes reading the letter, his gaze falls upon Marquis, now standing sentinel by the prison fence, and his heart swells with pride and gratitude.