The Cavalry

2024 | 17 min

Director, Camera, Edit by Alina Orlov

The Cavalry is a semi-documentary that follows horses in a rural setting, the West Bank, and an Israeli police unit, alongside manipulated archival footage. It explores horses' sensitivity and their relationship with humans, showing what these interactions say about society. Central to the film is the story of a young horse named 7, undergoing harsh conditioning in an Israeli cavalry training program. Officers subject him to loud noises, violent abrasions, water dousing, and uncomfortable conditions, highlighting the desensitization process for controlling public protests.

The Cavalry is premiering at the Locarno Film Festival in August 2024, as part of the Pardi di Domani: Concorso Internazionale