Trailer for I've Seen the Unicorn.
On the tiny island nation of Mauritius, Alvinio Roy, a young, stouthearted fisherman, dreams of becoming a champion jockey at the fabled Champs de Mars Racecourse. Though a remnant of the British Empire, which ruled Mauritius until 1968, horse racing has endured as the lifeblood of the island. As one local explains, "There are beaches—and horse racing!" We follow Alvinio and other horse racing aficionados—a Rastafarian gambler, a shrewd bookmaker, an Irish jockey and the head trainer of the Gujadhur family stables—in rapt anticipation of the year’s ultimate race: The Maiden Cup. With a lyrical eye, director Vincent Toi throws us into the nail-biting sport of horse racing to evoke a nation resolute in spirit despite centuries of colonial rule. I’ve Seen the Unicorn conjures a tangible, fragrant sense of place and a nation galloping forward on its optimism.