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Over the Hills and Far Away

Play trailer Over the Hills and Far Away Released Sep 11, 2009 1h 34m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
An autistic pre-adolescent prone to tearful outbursts, Rowan Isaacson rarely talks to family members, but he seems to have a special bond with horses. Frustrated that Rowan isn't responding to traditional treatment methods, his parents take him on a journey from their home in Texas to a shaman's hillside abode in Mongolia. This documentary depicts how Rowan responds to the shaman's unusual combination of healing ceremonies and horseback riding.

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Over the Hills and Far Away

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Critics Consensus

It traces a familiar, albeit inspirational arc, but The Horse Boy tells a moving tale of parental devotion with grace and sensitivity.

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Critics Reviews

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Keith Uhlich Time Out Comes off as both an edifying work of advocacy and an invasive home movie. Rated: 3/5 Dec 23, 2020 Full Review Joe Williams St. Louis Post-Dispatch It's because the premise is so intriguing and the drama is so compelling that the result is so confounding. Rated: 2.5/4 Nov 24, 2009 Full Review Jennie Punter Globe and Mail The film's particular story serves as a powerful reminder to all parents that a child's unique strengths and personality may suggest the best path toward healing. Rated: 3/4 Nov 13, 2009 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Answers the question 'How far would you travel for someone you love?' Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 11, 2020 Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture To force us to endure the Mongolian sojourn feels more like a trip of the ego than any other grand journey. Rated: 2/5 Oct 16, 2019 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row May not break any new ground in the documentary department, but it's a mildly successful middle of the road effort Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 5, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I have to respond to the “ critic” who wrote “difficult to watch, especially if you don’t have children”. That is perhaps the most inane comment I have ever seen in a movie review . If you have no interest in children, autism, horses, boys, or the word “the”, then why pray tell did you watch it and why did you feel you needed to lower its overall score because of your bass ackwards opinion? People dealing with the puzzle of autism will go to great lengths to find answers of any kind. I have to say that probably 95%. If families dealing with this will never have the opportunity to travel anywhere to see any shaman or even have access to horses. But if someone can can produce a book or movie/documentary about possibilities for healing and peace, who are you to judge? I understand that all movie reviews are, of course, the opinion of the viewer. But I also understand that negative reviews written by someone who does not, admittedly, have children of their own could perhaps impact someone who could benefit from watching said film. Ok, I’m done ranting, but, P.S. Shame on you! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member I can't find the words that can accurately describe this documentary story. Mad and unbelievable, but also, so moving. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Two extremely annoying parents deal with their son's autism in the most extreme way possible. The film shirks all standard explanation and timelines in favor of what the filmmakers probably feel is a more emotionally true approach to the material. They can feel it, but when you don't build any connection with the characters, emotional truth is elusive. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member a very inspiring transformation, but the film willows half its runtime explaining itself. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A family's trek to Mongolia to find a way to help their autistic son. Inspiring and raises profound questions. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member A tough movie to watch especially if you dont have children, while there is a sensitivity given to the subject of autism, the movie is ultimately one boring scene after another. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Over the Hills and Far Away

A scene from the film "The Horse Boy." A scene from the film "The Horse Boy." A scene from the film "The Horse Boy." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An autistic pre-adolescent prone to tearful outbursts, Rowan Isaacson rarely talks to family members, but he seems to have a special bond with horses. Frustrated that Rowan isn't responding to traditional treatment methods, his parents take him on a journey from their home in Texas to a shaman's hillside abode in Mongolia. This documentary depicts how Rowan responds to the shaman's unusual combination of healing ceremonies and horseback riding.
Director
Michel Orion Scott
Producer
Rupert Isaacson
Distributor
Zeitgeist
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 11, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 4, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$156.0K
Runtime
1h 34m
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