Synopsis
Proving himself to be one of the most gifted, insightful and versatile directors working today, Andrew Haigh (45 Years, Weekend) returns with Lean on Pete, a powerfully moving and deeply emotional story about a young boy’s search for belonging on the fringes of contemporary American society. Fifteen-year-old Charley lives with his alcoholic father (Travis Fimmel) in a run-down house on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. In an effort to help his dad stay afloat, Charley takes a job at a local racetrack where he befriends jaded trainer Del (Steve Buscemi) and burnt-out jockey Bonnie (Chloë Sevigny) while caring for an aging horse named Lean on Pete. But as things break down at home and Del announces Pete will be sold to an uncertain fate, the burden becomes too great for Charley to bear and he heads out into the vast American wilderness with Pete in tow. Featuring an incredible breakout performance by Charlie Plummer and shot in mesmerising style, Lean on Pete is a poignant, compassionate and heart-rending portrait of love, loss and acceptance that resonates with profound humanity.
Director
Andrew Haigh
Andrew Haigh has directed four features - including his latest, Lean on Pete. His previous film, 45 Years, premiered at the 2015 Berlin Film Festival where it won Silver Bears for the lead performances of Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. It went on to win a number of international awards and received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for Charlotte Rampling.
His second feature, Weekend, premiered at SXSW in 2011 where it won the Emerging Visions Audience Award. Haigh was also the executive producer and lead writer/director on the HBO show Looking, including the finale television movie broadcast in 2015.
Cast
Steve Buscemi: Del Montgomery Charlie Plummer: Charley Thompson Chloe Sevigny: Bonnie Travis Fimmel: Ray
Crew
Andrew Haigh: Director / screenwriter Tristan Goligher: Producer
Details
Based on the novel by Willy Vlautin
Awards
Official selection, 2017 Venice Film Festival
Winner of the 2017 Venice Marcello Mastroianni Award - Charlie Plummer
Official selection, 2017 Toronto International Film Festival
Available ON DEMAND, DVD & Blu-ray
GENRE: Drama
DIRECTOR: Andrew Haigh
CAST:
Steve Buscemi: Del Montgomery
Charlie Plummer: Charley Thompson
Chloe Sevigny: Bonnie
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CREW:
Andrew Haigh: Director / screenwriter
Tristan Goligher: Producer
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COUNTRIES: France, UK
LANGUAGES: English
AWARDS:
Official selection, 2017 Venice Film Festival
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Videos
Poster
Reviews
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“Rivetingly beautiful”
Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
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“Plummer’s is one of the most striking breakthrough performances of the year”
Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair
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“Haigh is nothing if not a sensitive, compassionate director”
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
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“Heartfelt and affecting”
Xan Brooks, The Guardian
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“A star-making turn [from Plummer] that seems semi-miraculously to oscillate between childhood and adulthood”
Jessica Kiang, The Playlist
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“Beautifully crafted”
Ed Gibbs, Little White Lies
Discuss the film
Other films we recommend
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45 Years
Directed by Andrew Haigh
The Selfish Giant
Directed by Clio Barnard
Winter's Bone
Directed by Debra Granik
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45 Years
Directed by Andrew Haigh
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The Selfish Giant
Directed by Clio Barnard
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Winter's Bone
Directed by Debra Granik