Horses are bold and beautiful and they have minds of their own, but they don't--and shouldn't--talk like Lukas Haas. This movie's stunning visuals and simple but strong story are undercut by the heavy-handed voice-over which finds Haas speaking for the lead horse, Lucky, as he strives to survive running free. It's cloying, it's anthropopathism and furthermore it doesn't seem at all necessary. That's because the horses prove themselves fine and convincing performers doing what horses do naturally--with a few of the naughty bits cut out, because this is, after all, a G-rated movie.

   Like most movies in which child grows to adult, it's not completely possible to believe the transformation, this time because the white blaze on the face of the chestnut equines that play foal, colt and stallion aren't a total match, but nevertheless the journey is an attractive one to follow.

   The story reveals how horses forced to work in the copper mines in South Africa prior to World War I become a feral herd free to gallop the desert sand dunes and mountain valleys. People impede or aid their journey in the tradition of classic animal/human interaction fact and fable. Chase Moore as the orphaned stable hand who rears the foal and Maria Geelbooi as the young bushman who befriends him are at ease in their connection with the animals and their expression of feelings. Geelbooi's stunning looks undermine the facade that she's a boy, but that doesn't really matter in terms of the story; young Lucky is also played by a female, Nisha, which is somewhat more perplexing for those who can tell the difference.

   In fact, sex seems to be one of the main problems with the film, or rather its coyness about sex, which after all is the driving force of Lucky's desire to rule the roost on his own terms. For a film designed to remind us of the glory and rights of animals, it seems a more sophisticated way could have been found at certain moments to deal with the truth without seeming to strive too hard for that G rating. Starring Chase Moore and Jan Decleir. Narrated by Lukas Haas. Directed by Sergei Bodrov. Written by Jean-Jacques Annaud and Jeanne Rosenberg. Produced by Jean-Jacques Annaud. A Columbia release. Drama. Rated G. Running time: 84 min