Pop Smart - The First Saturday in May at Landmark Midtown

Just in time for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, Creative Loafing’s Allison C. Keene reviews The First Saturday in May, now playing at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema:

“Big hats, mint juleps and the chance of winning the betting lotto aren’t the only great things about the Kentucky Derby. Horses are there, too.

For the documentary The First Saturday in May, about the path to winning the first race of the Triple Crown, directors Brad and John Hennegan do their part to paint an instantly engaging and beautiful portrayal of the drama, determination and heartache in the lives of those dreaming of the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs in 2006. You don’t need insider knowledge to understand the racing world that the Hennegans present, though viewers may already be familiar with this particular story. In 2006, a fiercely talented horse named Barbaro won the Derby only to be struck down later with an ultimately fatal fracture during the Preakness. Barbaro’s role in the film doesn’t become the main focus until his win, with a brief coda about his tragic aftermath (for more on Barbaro and the controversy of his surgeries, click here), though for those who know what’s coming, even his first appearance brings a hint a sadness.

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