Documentary Horse Power 'gallops' onto Beijing screens

Horse Power, a documentary tracing the journeys of seven horses from different breeds around the world, began screening on Monday at the giant-screen theater of the China Science and Technology Museum, where it will run through May 17.

A special screening was held on Tuesday as part of the science and technology section of the ongoing 16th Beijing International Film Festival.

Jointly hosted by the museum and the Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums, the section opened a day earlier under the theme "Technology empowers culture, and images connect the world", combining film screenings with panel discussions.

Filmed over three years across six countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas, the documentary presents a sweeping portrait of horses in diverse environments.

On the grasslands of Xilingol in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, a foal named Tulai (rabbit coming) forms a bond with an 8-year-old girl, telling a quiet yet powerful story of trust and resilience.

In the Gobi Desert of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the Przewalski's horse — once extinct in the wild — returns to its ancestral habitat, symbolizing endurance and the pursuit of freedom. Elsewhere, the film captures the survival instincts of wild horses in the United States, alongside the speed of Arabian horses and the discipline of Dutch police horses. Through these interwoven narratives, the film elevates the horse from a symbolic to a living presence, reflecting both natural vitality and cultural meaning.

At the event, representatives also introduced Xilingol League, one of the film's main shooting locations. Yang Jianjun, head of the Xilingol League Integrated Media Center, highlighted the enduring spirit of Mongolian horses, known for their resilience and perseverance.

Li Hongsen, director of the museum's cinema management department, said the organizers aim to build a bridge linking science, culture and art while fostering a stronger ecosystem for science films. "We hope to deliver more high-quality scientific visual works to audiences," he said.

Following the screening, experts and scholars discussed the film's international communication value, describing it as an innovative example of telling Chinese stories through science cinema. They also praised its blend of scientific perspective and artistic expression, noting that it promotes cross-cultural understanding through compelling visual storytelling.