Movie Reviews
The First Saturday in May
By Beth Davies-Stofka
May 2, 2008 - 11:42




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The First Saturday in May (2008)
Starring: Chuck Chambers, Bob Holthus, Bonnie Holthus, John McKee
Directed by: Brad and John Hennegan
Produced by: Hennegan Brothers
Genres: Documentary and Sports
Release Date: 18 April 2008 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language
Distributors: Truly Indie

Tomorrow is the running of the 134th Kentucky Derby, the oldest sporting event in the United States.  Yet Americans don't follow horse racing the way they follow football, basketball, or baseball.  The sport has been struggling, but the passion of those involved is as pulsating and intense as it could be.

The First Saturday in May follows six trainers as they pursue their dreams of competing in the Kentucky Derby.  This documentary is an intimate study of hopes and dreams, catching its subjects in candid moments of celebration and disappointment, adroitly contrasting their different personalities, and winning our affections in sweetly unguarded interviews with family members.


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Track-level excitement.
The Hennegan Brothers also deliver a powerful you-are-here sensation.  They have seemingly unrestricted access to racetracks in the U.S. and Dubai.  The mix of front row and behind-the-scenes access gives outsiders an engrossing experience of the sport of horse racing and the people involved.

Unfortunately, there are too many people.  The potential power of these six remarkable stories is diluted by the sheer size of the cast.  Even as the close of the film draws near, the Hennegan Brothers must still post captions identifying the person on screen and the trainers with whom they are associated.  This overpopulation prevents the viewer from fully engaging with the subjects of the film.

The First Saturday in May is worth the price of admission, just for its depiction of the big day.  We see the masses of racegoers congregating at Churchill Downs, entertaining us with their hats and their reverence for the Derby.  This is a kind of Mardi Gras.  We get goosebumps as the trainers move to the stands and their horses go to the gate.  And in heart-pounding excitement, we relive 2006's "fastest two minutes in sports."


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Barbaro
Lady Luck turned away during the making of this film, when horse racing witnessed one of the most painful and unforgettable sports tragedies.  The Hennegan Brothers weren't prepared for it, but then, no one was.  Barbaro's injury in the Preakness led to a confused and unsatisfying finish to this occasionally dazzling and always affectionate window into a world few of us will ever know.

8.2/10

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