"I shall never forget seeing those horses thundering across the desolate valley against a backdrop of huge red dunes, their long manes and tails streaming behind, a vision of ultimate freedom." -author David Coulson



In the southern part of the African continent lies a country of wide horizons, clear, unpolluted skies and compelling beauty-Namibia, known by many as Africa's Gem. A land of contrasts, Namibia is home to the mighty Namib, the most ancient desert in the world, and-with its brooding landscape, towering sand dunes, ever varying colors and sense of infinite vastness-one of the most awe-inspiring. The desert lies at the edge of the rugged, inhospitable Skeleton Coast, one of the planet's most treacherous and barren shorelines. Scores of ships and mariners have met their end here, fostering the Coast's aura of mystery and impenetrability.



Despite the severe extremes of this harsh environment, herds of wild horses roam freely among the dunes of the mighty Namib. These horses are not indigenous to the area but have somehow managed to survive. Feeding voraciously during the all too rare rainy seasons, the animals build themselves up to survive the lean, mean years of drought. Very few people know about these animals, and few have ever seen or photographed them. In RUNNING FREE, acclaimed filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud, director Sergei Bodrov and screenwriter Jeanne Rosenberg have teamed to bring the compelling story of one of these courageous horses to life. This remarkable tale follows Lucky as he grows from an awkward colt into a magnificent stallion, triumphing against all odds at the edge of this vast expanse of raw, unforgiving nature.