Fresh Horses (1988)

Fresh Horses Poster

A Cincinnati college student breaks off his engagement to his wealthy fiancée after he falls in love with a backwoods Kentucky girl he meets at a party. She says she's 20, but he finds out she's 16 and married to an abusive husband.

Introduction
"Fresh Horses" is a 1988 American drama film directed by David Anspaugh. The screenplay was written by Larry Ketron, based upon his play about an university student's romantic relationship with a distressed southern woman. Andrew McCarthy and Molly Ringwald, stars of the 80's teen classics "Pretty in Pink" and "Saint Elmo's Fire", reunite in this deeply psychological drama that explores love, misconception, and personal freedom.

Plot
The movie begins on the school of an Ohio-based university, where wealthy Cincinnati native Matt Larkin (Andrew McCarthy) is set to wed his youth sweetie in a couple of weeks. Nevertheless, Matt's life takes an unexpected turn when his old pal Tipton (Ben Stiller in his movie launching) introduces him to Jewel (Molly Ringwald), an enigmatic Kentucky native from a lower socio-economic background.

Love and Conflict
In spite of his well-off status and privileged standing, Matt discovers himself inexplicably drawn to Jewel's credibility and genuineness, so much so that he decides to cancel his upcoming wedding event. The couple then face many challenges due to their contrasting backgrounds and the bias they face from individuals around them. Contributing to the intricacy, Matt finds some upsetting realities about Jewel: she is minor and caught in a violent relationship with a guy claiming to be her sibling, Green (Viggo Mortensen).

Identity and Freedom
Throughout the course of the film, the couple undergoes a series of tough encounters as they aim to comprehend one another and the bizarre circumstances that surround them. The film explores the fragility and volatility of young love, while further documenting the journey of Matt realizing Jewel's true identity. The film climaxes with an emotionally shocking twist, unveiling that Jewel and Green are not brother or sisters however are in reality married.

Conclusion
"Fresh Horses" presents a stark contrast to the buoyant spirit of the common 80's teen films and offers a mature launching for both Ringwald and McCarthy. The film is an intense love story that faces social norms and restrictions, checking out styles of extreme economic variation, sexual exploitation, and false identity. Despite the grim undertones and complex relationships, the movie ends with a glimmer of hope that highlights individual freedom and the possibility for a fresh start.

Efficiency and Reception
"Fresh Horses" was especially noteworthy for its representation of contrasting social demographics and the nuanced performances of McCarthy and Ringwald. The movie featured an early efficiency from Ben Stiller, representing the function of Tipton. The film did refrain from doing well at the box office and got blended evaluations from critics, but has actually given that gotten a cult following because of its uncommon, dark vibe and genuine performances.
Furthermore, fans of the 80's teen cinema appreciated the reunion of McCarthy and Ringwald, who provided efficiencies distinctively different from their previous roles together.

In general, "Fresh Horses" paints a memorable photo of love breaking the borders of social norms and individual situations while challenging the disparity between illusion and reality.

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