One of Canada’s most beloved animators, Ann Marie Fleming (The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam, Stories Sarah Tells, I was a Child of Holocaust Survivors) returns with an extraordinary tale of art, history and family, in this warm, witty animated feature about a young Canadian poet who undergoes a life-changing experience when she attends a poetry festival in Iran.
Rosie is a young Canadian poet of Chinese and Persian descent who lives in Vancouver with her protective, but loving Chinese grandparents, and dreams of an artistic and glamorous Parisian life. When she receives an invitation to a poetry festival in Shiraz, Iran, she decides to embark on the trip that will change her life. Though Rosie has never travelled alone, she ends up meeting fellow artists from around the world and locals who open her eyes to the nature of art; they become guides to her own personal narrative, offering new perspectives on the story of a father she thought had abandoned her. Rosie’s time in Shiraz proves to be a transformative experience as she learns to ground herself by connecting with her own roots, both far and near.
Voiced by an all-star cast that includes Canadian icons Sandra Oh, Ellen Page (The Tracy Fragments) and Don McKellar (Cooking with Stella), the characters display the intelligence and humour typical of Fleming’s work. The film seamlessly integrates different animation styles to express Rosie’s diverse experiences, and audiences marvel at the richness of this world with the same wide-eyed wonder as Rosie. One of the most magical things about Window Horses is the way that each sentence, idea, or scrap of history comes to life in colourful and graceful ways, flowering into a poetic universe all its own.
“An entertaining, educational, and poignant tale about identify and imagination that is filled with stories and poetry.” (Alissa Simon, Variety)
“This is not just a visual treat, it’s a rewarding and unexpectedly engrossing piece of female-led storytelling.” (Wendy Ide, Screen International)