I’m on day 15 of the Melbourne Film Festival and probably film number 50 and so it’s a rarity to watch one that feels rejuvenating.

It is partly because of the subject matter and the beautiful imagery, but also there are a moments where a mentor is sitting with a young Aboriginal child and talking them through taking deep breaths and it is hard not to do the same. Mindfulness in a movie.

This documentary by Sean O’Reilly is all about a program called Yawardani Jan-ga (Horses Helping) in the West Kimberley that was funded initially by a NHMRC five year research project and is now continued with the support of a charity that has been created.

As a response to suicide rates for a young Aboriginal people being amongst the highest in the world in this area, the program provides the opportunity for young Aboriginal people to spend time and bond with horses, learning about themselves, emotional regulation, as well as a deep connection to nature and Country.

Professor Juli Coffin is the main spokesperson,and she speaks from a deep well of understanding after the loss of her brother boy to suicide. She talks at length about the psychology of horses and being with horses, the way horses can pick up on mood and expression and the need to manage your own emotions before being able to connect with them.

We see several young people and hear the stories of the challenges they have faced. We watch them brighten and come out of their closed selves under the influence of the horses and also the love and attention from two legged humans.

We get a strong sense of Country, with slow motion imagery of beautiful sunsets and low golden light across sand dunes, wild brumbies galloping and the sun setting and moon rising. There are soaring violins as well as transcendent Aboriginal voices.

Although this really is a story about a particular place and situation, it is surely an approach that could be replicated elsewhere, both with horse therapy but also through connection to land and nature and oneself. It brought to mind the Mary Oliver documentary where she had a similar love of being still and listening to trees and birds and insects.

I’m not sure what the call to action might be after this film, but you’ll probably feel like you want to do something. The charity can be contributed to, and I wonder to at what you might take with you into your workplace and family and community to be more aware of how what you are feeling affects the world around you.

Have a look at their website here https://www.guidedbyhorsesmovie.com/ and you can donate to Yawardani Jan-ga here https://yawardanijanga.com.au/