Violence, Abuse And Neglect In The Dark Horse

In the visual text ‘The Dark Horse’ directed by James Napier Robertson, a mentally ill former national chess champion known as Genesis Potini passes on his knowledge of chess to underprivileged kids whose families are either imprisoned or gang affiliated and gives them a chance to participate in the Junior National Chess Competition. The cycle of violence, abuse, and neglect ingrained in this film, a generation of gangs, being initiated into them and what society think of mentally ill people, were all obvious things in this visual text.

In this film the cycle of violence, abuse, and neglect was generated from when Genesis and Ariki were kids. Because of their own abusive upbringing, they thought it was normal to treat their children with violence and neglect. Near the end of the movie, Ariki understands how poorly he is treating his son and allows Genesis

But being mentally ill is an obstacle that needs to be overcome. Despite the challenges that came his way, Genesis pushed forward to find his purpose in life by passing on his knowledge of chess to local youth. I think that because Genesis was mentally ill he wasn’t able to get a job and so he had to provide for himself during the day. Helping the children not only got him through the day but he was teaching people what he loved doing.

Gangs provide men and women with a sense of family and belonging that has continuously been absent from their childhoods. Ariki, Genesis, and Mana came for disadvantaged communities, with so much crime, drugs, and alcohol throughout their lives, it made them only feel safe within a gang. Gang membership isn 't restricted to youngsters. So that is another reason why Ariki wanted Mana in the gang when he was only 15 years old. I think Ariki wants Mana to be able to have a family and be protected once he dies but he has to let his son get beaten up and abused in order for him to have