Those familiar with writer and director Andrew Haigh are aware of his considerable skill in portraying raw emotion without resorting to overly sentimental displays; his films tackle difficult subjects while avoiding the kind of saccharine sentimentality often seen in works like those by Spielberg. While _Lean on Pete_ doesn’t quite reach the heights of earlier successes such as _Weekend_ (2011) or _45 Years_ (2015), and feels somewhat more melodramatic, Haigh's ability to let character and underlying ideas emerge naturally through understated moments of reflection remains evident. The reason a higher rating isn’t possible comes down to the fact that the narrative feels heavy-handed at times; Charley Thompson (Charlie Plummer) is presented as something akin to the biblical Job, enduring such a string of unfortunate events that one anticipates he will be given a grim medical diagnosis. Likewise, the symbolic nature of the people he meets feels too obvious for the realistic setting Haigh has created. A blend of commentary on contemporary America and a coming-of-age story, it’s worth seeing, but ultimately lacks a clear thematic resolution. Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson (Charlie Plummer) lives with his father, Ray (Travis Fimmel), who is steadily destroying himself with alcohol. He finds employment looking after an aging racehorse named Lean on Pete, and is heartbroken to discover that Pete's owner, Del Montgomery (Steve Buscemi), intends to have the horse slaughtered. Determined to save his friend, Charley takes Pete, and the two embark on a journey across the American landscape. The director discusses how his work explores feelings of loneliness and a desire for connection, suggesting that most people mask their solitude through relationships or careers because they recognize that feeling alone is a fundamental part of human existence. In this story, that sense of isolation is particularly pronounced: Charley spends much of his time trying to escape, frequently leaving the scene altogether. He believes that everyone is constantly struggling with loneliness, seeking things that will make them feel better and chasing after happiness, only to repeat the process when those pursuits fail—a basic instinct that keeps us going.

Source on TMDB