No. 85. (2019) Ride Like A Girl. September 21st.

Film No 85 (2019) Sept. 21st.  11:00 AM  LUNA PALACE Leederville. 

"It's such a chauvinistic sport, a lot of the owners wanted to kick me off. Everyone else can get stuffed who think women aren't good enough " (Michelle Payne talks to cameras immediately after becoming the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup).

One of the great feel good stories from Australia's rich, rich sporting past. Actor Rachel Griffiths became so inspired immediately after watching the running of the Melbourne Cup 2015 when jockey Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to win the 150 plus year old race she, rang prospective producers, from the race course, in a determined effort to bring Michelle's inspirational story to screen. 4 years on, Ride Like A Girl is screening all over Australia to warm applause. Griffiths set out to create a film that would bring a tear to the eye of men who, rarely sit in a cinema (her words). So far she is succeeding in her quest. 

Like so many true stories brought to screen, if you didn't actually know the tale of Michelle Payne it might be scoffed at as too far-fetched. So while there is a short-cut or two to embellish matters, Griffiths had Michelle and brother Stephen (who plays himself) by her side throughout the production. Teresa Palmer plays Payne perfectly, as does Sam Neill as her legendary horseman father. Stephen steals scene after scene and there is hardly a moment the three are not featured. There is nothing new in this recipe for feel-good screen drama. We know where it's going, it's riddled with cliches, and the script is clunky; but try ripping your eyes from the screen. Payne and Griffiths dare you. I couldn't, and yes I had a lump in my throat as the titles rolled. Ride Like A Girl is a rollicking good yarn. 9GUMS.