On Swift Horses
cover story
✦
cover story ✦
From the sun-drenched skies of California to the dazzling neon of Las Vegas in the 1950s, On Swift Horses is a poetic exploration of love, identity, and defiance against the backdrop of a restless American landscape.
Directed by Daniel Minahan and adapted from Shannon Pufahl’s 2019 novel, this Sony Pictures Classics release captures the thrill and peril of chasing one’s truth in a world that demands conformity. And central to the film is Golden Globe nominee Daisy Edgar-Jones, whose portrayal of Muriel—a young woman unraveling the constraints of her era—brings a delicate yet fierce intensity to a timeless story of self-acceptance.
In the film, Muriel’s journey truly begins in California, where she and her husband, Lee (Will Poulter), settle after his return from the Korean War, aiming to build a bright new life in San Diego. However, the introduction of Lee’s charismatic younger brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi), somewhat disrupts their vision. While Lee hopes Julius will stay and share their ideal future in San Diego, Julius daringly chooses to chase his own dreams in Las Vegas.
As Muriel takes the time to explore new opportunities in California instead of prioritizing the expectations of her marriage, she eventually commits to living a secret life where she finds herself gambling on racehorses and developing a strong connection with her neighbor, Sandra (Sasha Calle)—whose presence awakens desires she’s never dared explore. Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Julius discovers a spark of his own with his casino coworker Henry (Diego Calva), igniting another hidden romance that unfolds within the confines of a motel room.
Despite the film’s status as a period piece with its own set of specific social standards, Edgar-Jones sees Muriel’s evolutionary journey in On Swift Horses as a bridge to modern audiences. “Having the setting of the fifties—Muriel as a young woman and also a queer woman who is coming to terms with her sexuality—and discovering pushing the boundaries and following her heart in this way, I think feels so very relevant today,” she explains. “It’s a story of love and figuring yourself out—and also being a kind of human being that is messy at times and someone who gets it wrong.” The actor’s words perfectly highlight the film’s universal theme: the struggle to define oneself against societal expectations and pressures, which remains as powerful now as it did in the 1950s.
In making the conscious effort to challenge these social pressures, Muriel’s acts of rebellion in the film are subtle but seismic. “I really loved and was struck by the quiet ways she starts to kind of push back and rebel,” Edgar-Jones reflects. “I think her relationship with gambling and risk-taking as the journey continues—and then her relationship with starting to kind of push back and follow her heart in a way that is risky.” The actor continues, “I found her internalized and thoughtful nature compelling. I related to those quiet rebellions and her fascinating journey.” Her performance aims to capture Muriel’s specific needs for this introspective depth, balancing restraint with a growing courage that particularly shines in her connection with Sandra, a bond Edgar-Jones calls “beautiful to watch.”
Though, even with strong romantic bonds blossoming, the relationship between Muriel and Julius acts as the film’s emotional focal point. “They have an almost romantic relationship that is also so platonic, which sparks an understanding in each other, or a recognition in each other of a side of themselves they haven’t had the chance to explore,” Edgar-Jones explains to us. Their bond, rooted in shared outsider status, transcends conventional romance, offering each a mirror for their unspoken truths. It’s a dynamic that propels the story, as both characters chase love and freedom by any means necessary.
Looking back at the film’s earliest stages of development, Edgar-Jones was one of the first to join the project, largely due to the fact that she was completely captivated by its poetic script. “I think I was maybe the first to come on board,” she recalls. “I was sent the script, and I fell so deeply in love with it. I thought it was so beautiful and lyrical. I love love stories, and stories about young people finding themselves. It felt like the perfect thing to explore, especially with this incredible cast.”
Meeting Minahan, whose work includes Fellow Travelers, ultimately cemented her enthusiasm about the story’s reach. “I fell in love with [Minahan’s] vision and was excited to work with him,” she says. The involvement of producers known for high-caliber projects like Nomadland and Call Me by Your Name also promised Edgar-Jones a story that she knew would feel cinematic and enduring by the time everything came together. The On Swift Horses star adds, “When I [later] heard the cast names like Jacob, Sasha, Will, and Diego, I thought, ‘This is a cool [story] to be a part of.’”
Just as she expected, the ensemble of Edgar-Jones, Elordi, Poulter, Calva, and Calle brings electric chemistry to the screen, having already earned rave reviews from SXSW attendees and critics. Elordi’s Julius is essentially a gambler with a restless heart, his charm veiling deeper wounds. Poulter’s Lee, earnest but partially blind to Muriel’s unrest, anchors the domestic tension. Calva’s Henry radiates soft, comforting strength in the Las Vegas underworld, while Calle’s Sandra, with her understated fire, ignites Muriel’s awakening. Together, they create a world where every choice, and even every glance—carries weight, amplifying the threshold for success with this detail-oriented story.
Now, with its luminous cast and piercing themes available for all to witness, On Swift Horses invites audiences to ponder the risks we take for love and truth.
On Swift Horses is in theaters nationwide.
