Fifteen-year-old Charley lives with his alcoholic father (Travis Fimmel) in a run-down house on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. In an effort to help his dad stay afloat, Charley takes a job at a local racetrack where he befriends jaded trainer Del (Steve Buscemi) and burnt-out jockey Bonnie (Chloë Sevigny) while caring for an ageing horse named Lean on Pete.
But as things break down at home and Del announces Pete will be sold to an uncertain fate, the burden becomes too great for Charley to bear and he heads out into the vast American wilderness with Pete in tow.
Featuring an incredible breakout performance by Charlie Plummer and shot in mesmerising style, Lean on Pete is a poignant, compassionate and heart-rending portrait of love, loss and acceptance that resonates with profound humanity.
UK 2017 Dir Andrew Haigh 121 min
