Monday, March 20, 2006

Wilmington, N.C. - The Lady and the Outlaw Horse, a new award-winning documentary by Lou Buttino, filmmaker and chair of the University of North Carolina Wilmington Department of Film Studies, will make its North Carolina debut on March 31. The free screening begins at 7 p.m. in UNCW's Kenan Auditorium and is part of a university-wide celebration of Women's History Month.

The Lady and the Outlaw Horse documents the life of equestrian Jane Pohl and her renegade champion horse Fitzrada. It premiered nationally on March 10 in Los Angeles as part of the prestigious New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF). Characteristic of Buttino's previous works, the film depicts human heroism in fresh frames of reference. The lady, Jane Pohl, is a pioneer equestrian competing in a man's world. The outlaw horse, Fitzrada, is an irrepressible animal that becomes one of the greatest open jumping horses in history. Together they redefine the meaning of courage and companionship.

The documentary's co-producer, Richard R. Rust of Fuquay, N.C. is a retired Army colonel and Pohl's son. He approached Buttino about the documentary 2 years ago and the filmmaker immediately took an interest in the material. "Jane was called the greatest rider in America in the 1940s. Her courage and her success helped to break down the barriers that kept women from competing in the Olympics and in equestrian sport," Buttino said. "This is a story about a shy and awkward young woman who rescued a horse so rebellious and dangerous that the Army was going to shoot him. It was she who recognized his talent and healed his spirit. Jane Pohl's story of unique accomplishment is inspiring in itself, but is also particularly appropriate to the celebration of Women's History Month."

This screening of The Lady and the Outlaw Horse is made possible by the generous support of the UNCW Women's Resource Center, the UNCW Department of History, the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, the UNCW Department of Film Studies and the UNCW Office of Cultural Arts.

Media inquiries may be directed to Courtney Reilly, UNCW Office of Cultural Arts, at 910.962.7416, or reillyce@uncw.edu.