Inspired by real-life events, Take My Hand is promoted as “a romantic drama centred on hope, perseverance and above all, love”. It has been produced and filmed right here in Australia, and horses are integral to the story.

TAKE MY HAND – 2024

Directed by John Raftopoulos, produced by Bronte Pictures

The horses are gently respectful, never invading her fragile space. “They know something’s wrong,” says Claire Jensz, who was diagnosed with MS 25 years ago.

Claire is explaining her role as executive producer of Take My Hand, a film directed by her husband, John Raftopoulos, and set largely on their property they share with several horses in Byron Bay.

This is John’s first feature film but he did make a documentary, to be released shortly, about Zephyr Horses, an equestrian operation they co-own and which offers personalised tours of the region’s picturesque coast and runs riding camps, lessons and clinics. The location was effectively used throughout the film’s nine-week shoot.

“Inspired by real-life events,
Take My Hand about to be
screened in 150 cinemas
around Australasia.”

Inspired by real-life events, Take My Hand is promoted as “a romantic drama centred on hope, perseverance and above all, love”. And it’s about to be screened in 150 cinemas around Australasia.

A mother of three, living in London at the peak of her banking career, is diagnosed with MS. Following the sudden death of her husband and the loss of her job, she moves back home to Australia. A chance encounter with her high school sweetheart gives her renewed hope in love as she battles the disease.

John was instrumental in the making of this film, but it took years to be greenlit. “It began as an idea for a book and a publisher wanted to buy our story, but then we decided to go one step further and write a screenplay – so I began hacking away.”

After futile attempts at dealing overseas with American companies it was decided they self-fund the picture and made it on home ground, with four days of shooting in London. Claire, who was on set each day, explains with a smile: “My job as an EP was to give advice and pay for things a lot!”

A team of experienced filmmakers came on board, pre-production went into full swing, locations were organised, and actors and crew selected. Radha Mitchell was signed in the lead role as Laura, based on Claire, and Meg Fraser cast as the younger version.

At the beginning of the film she walks into shot on a chestnut which, she declares, had been pigrooting. Of course it hadn’t. It was very quiet and calm and fully aware horsewoman Lisa Willey was nearby, but out of shot, ensuring all went well.

“In the takes with the horse, Meg looked appropriately relaxed and keen and by the end of production she became quite good at trotting. I did her cantering scenes,” recalls Lisa, who has 15 horses on her property, Free Rein Horsemanship at Coopers Shoot near Byron Bay. She’s presently preparing a horse to compete in the Equitana Brumby Challenge in Melbourne later this year.

(Doubling for the older Laura was former show hack rider, Sue Baldwin, a stunt actor whose husband, Danny, was the film’s stunt coordinator.)

Unlike the Baldwins, this was Lisa’s first time working on a film. “It was fantastic. I’d love to do more now I’ve had a taste of it.”

“Lisa spends much of her time with our horses and helping me,” says Claire. “She’s the real rider in our movie,” adds John. Several years ago he had encouraged Claire, despite her condition, to get back on a horse resulting in a rekindling of the fascination she had felt decades before. “Being on a horse is therapeutic, I feel empowered,” says Claire.

The “pigrooting” chestnut was a stockhorse mare selected by Zephyr’s co-owner, Kate Noller, who picked appropriate mounts for the actors and stunt doubles.

Xavier Molyneaux, a former Big Brother contestant, plays Michael, based on the young John. “He was nervous around the horses,” says the director, “which was fine because that was what I was when meeting young Claire all those years ago.”

John explains how that was when the seeds of the story were sown. “It came to me after the love of my life returned from a 22-year absence. When Claire and I were both 23 years old, after meeting at school at the age of 15, Claire left for the UK to pursue a successful banking career. She returned in 2016 as a widow, with three children, and the crippling disease that is multiple sclerosis. When I heard she’d returned I had to make contact. She looked the same. Still quirky, smart and, of course, unbelievably gorgeous. We traded stories and I knew quickly there was a tale to be told.

“Claire’s condition didn’t deter from the love I’d always carried for her. True love doesn’t discriminate. It is non-judgmental and this is something I wanted to capture in the film. It tells of this woman’s journey over three decades from an innocent country girl with a strict upbringing and an undying love for horses and her desire to travel and chase her dreams.”

Horse Department credits: Riding coach: Claudia Burns; riders: Kate Noller, Aaron Lang, Ashlee Watson, Luke Surace; Jason’s stunt double: Mike Duncan; Laura’s double: Delphi O’Heart; young Laura riding double: Lisa Willey; young Michael riding double: Jasper Haack; Laura stunt double: Sue Baldwin. Horse services provided by Zephyr Horses. Horsemaster: Kate Noller; safety rider: Aaron Lang. EQ

Take My Hand is in cinemas August 22. For information about screenings visit takemyhandthemovie.com

Next month in Horses & Movies, True Grit, (2010) starring Jeff Bridges and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.