The Mustang
The Mustang is a 2019 drama film about an incarcerated man who finds healing through a wildlife rehabilitation program. Directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre in her feature debut, it stars Matthias Schoenaerts as Roman Coleman, a former drug addict in a Nevada prison who is put in charge of training a wild mustang named Marquis. The cast also includes Gideon Adlon, Connie Britton, Jason Mitchell, and Bruce Dern. The story draws on real rehabilitation programs in several states and was filmed in Nevada.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 31, 2019 and was released in the United States on March 15, 2019. It has a runtime of 96 minutes and is in English. The Mustang grossed about $6.7 million worldwide.
Plot summary:
Roman Coleman is serving a long prison sentence after a violent incident. He’s not easy to get along with, but he is placed in a program where inmates train wild horses. He bonds with Marquis, the horse he’s given to train, and with Henry, the top trainer, while navigating his own anger and past. His pregnant daughter Martha visits to sign papers for emancipation, but Roman refuses to leave the prison. After an outburst that lands him in solitary, he strives to redeem himself and stay in the program, even as he faces pressure from a fellow inmate to smuggle drugs. When danger, betrayal, and a near-tragic auction test him, Roman makes a bold move to free Marquis from the prison grounds. In the end, he receives a hopeful letter from Martha and a photo of her newborn grandson, hinting at a chance for rebuilding their family, as he shares a quiet moment with Marquis outside the prison.
Reception:
The Mustang received strong reviews, with a high rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a favorable score on Metacritic, praised for its performances, especially by Schoenaerts and Dern.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:48 (CET).