Katy McLaughlin desires to work on her family's mountainside horse ranch, although her father insists she finish boarding school. Katy finds a mustang in the hills near her ranch. The headstrong 16 year old then sets her mind to tame a mustang and prove to her father she can run the ranch. But when tragedy happens, it will take all the love and strength the family can muster to restore hope.
Acting
Tim McGraw surprisingly devastating as the stubborn, wounded dad.
Cinematography
Sweeping Wyoming vistas that'll make you want to quit your job.
Practical Effects
Real mustang wrangling — no CGI horses were harmed in this melodrama.
Director
Michael Mayer
Alison Lohman
Katherine "Katy" McLaughlin
Tim McGraw
Rob McLaughlin
Maria Bello
Nell McLaughlin
Ryan Kwanten
Howard McLaughlin
Danny Pino
Jack
Dallas Roberts
Gus
Kaylee DeFer
Miranda Koop
Jeffrey Nordling
Rick Koop
Dey Young
Esther Koop
Nick Searcy
Norbert Rye
Buck Taylor
Wagner
Wade Williams
Man with Clipboard
John O'Brien
Mr. Masterson
Armie Hammer
Male Prefect
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is actually the second adaptation of Mary O'Hara's 1941 novel 'My Friend Flicka' — the first was a 1943 film and 1950s TV series that your grandparents definitely watched.
The film sparked real controversy among horse welfare advocates for its intense training sequences, though it passed American Humane Association scrutiny.
US
