Jacob Elordi and Daisy Edgar-Jones brought some heat to a chilly September night when “On Swift Horses” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. The quirky drama follows a card player and his sister-in-law as they explore their hidden desires during the heyday of the 1950s, an era when acting on those impulses could lead to ruin. It’s a sexually charged film, with plenty of sex between Elordi’s character, Julius, and Diego Calva, who shines as a con man who gets involved with a mysterious recluse. Edgar-Jones, who plays Muriel, the wife of Julius’s (Will Poulter) brother, also embarks on a sultry affair with Sandra, the bohemian neighbor played by Sasha Calle.
In a Q&A after the screening, “On Swift Horses” director Daniel Minahan said he was drawn to the story because it offered “a reimagining of the American dream, but through a queer lens.” The film is based on a novel by Shannon Boval. Minahan liked the fact that the book had an optimistic tone, rather than a relentlessly dark and tragic story.
“I made a story about people who were hiding, people who were watching, people who were exploring and trying to find themselves, and they end up connecting,” the director said. “It’s not a tragic ending to this story. It ends on a note of hope, and that was important to us all along.”
Of course, we won't give away the end of the story here. There are countless complications before the events between the characters end – as well as scenes of compulsive gambling, gambling gangs and con artists, secret gay bars, and some urban horse riding.
Elordi's arrival drew boos from fans lining up outside the Princess of Wales Theatre, where the film was shown to a packed auditorium (volunteers had to encourage moviegoers to stop taking photos of the star and keep coming). But the actor insisted he had to try out for the role of Julius, despite his rising star status thanks to roles in Saltburn and Euphoria. His portrayal of the events didn't quite match his director's.
“I had to audition for the movie,” Elordi said.
“It wasn’t an audition,” Minahan insisted. “I’m glad you thought it was.”
“They made it look like he was one of them,” Elordi said with a laugh.
As Muriel, Edgar-Jones slowly emerges from her demure shell, realizing that she doesn’t want a suburban life. Instead, she wants something more dangerous and free. At first, it’s clandestine trips to the racetrack to bet on horses. Later, it’s long afternoons spent in Sandra’s arms. Edgar-Jones says she was inspired by Muriel’s example of pursuing your desires in a seemingly optimistic way, as well as “little moments of rebellion.”
Elordi said playing Julius allowed him to “be a cowboy.” To create the character, he drew on Kerouac's inspiration and “was a road warrior,” living in “bad hotels” and wearing leather jackets. “I felt as close to American freedom as I could get,” he said.
There's no shortage of sex in “On Swift Horses,” but the actors felt the film's power came from the characters' realization that they had formed emotional, not just physical, connections with their secret lovers.
“This movie is just about love,” Kali said. “It’s important to feel that feeling — whoever it is, wherever it takes you. It’s important to feel that feeling and to feel safe in it.”
“It’s also a film about identity, and being brave enough to find your own path and follow it,” Calva added. “And I think we can all relate to that.”
