The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writer:

Roger Donaldson (written by)

Release Date:

13 October 2005 (New Zealand)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Based On One Hell Of A True Story

Plot:

The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.

Plot Keywords:

Indian | Bonneville Salt Flats | Motorcycle | Makeshift | Boat

Awards:

10 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Anthony Hopkins	...	Burt Munro
Iain Rea	...	George
Tessa Mitchell	...	Sarah
Aaron Murphy	...	Tom
Tim Shadbolt	...	Frank
Annie Whittle	...	Fran
Greg Johnson	...	Duncan
Antony Starr	...	Jeff
Kate Sullivan	...	Doris
Craig Hall	...	Antarctic Angel
Jim Bowman	...	Cook
Alison Bruce	...	Doctor
Phoebe Falconer	...	Janice
Charles Pierard	...	Bank Manager
Barry Ryan	...	Burt's Neighbour

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief language, drug use and a sexual reference.

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

New Zealand | USA | Switzerland | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Ireland:PG | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:Btl | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

2929 Productions

Trivia:

At a post-film question and answer session at the National Film Theatre, London on 20 February 2006, director Roger Donaldson said that four motorcycles were built for the shoot: two replica Indian Scouts for detail shots made by the late motorcycle engineer John Britten's firm and two modified Ducatis for the running shots. He also said all four had difficulties on the salt flats breaking down regularly although the Ducatis reached 150mph for some shots. As for his own exploits, Donaldson admitted that the highest motorcycle speed he achieved was 65mph.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the final scene when Burt unlocks the paddle lock so that he can slide the bolt to the left to open the door, the bolt was already in the unlocked position. The clasp of the paddle lock needs to go through the bracket at the end of the bolt AND the bracket directly above it if you want to lock the bolt in the closed position so that the door can not be opened.

Quotes:

Burt Munro: If you don't follow your dreams, you might as well be a vegetable.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kingdom of the Vampire (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

You Are My Sunshine

Blatantly Kiwi, surprisingly Universal

'The World's Fastest Indian' is a unique movie that not only provides a film that New Zealanders anywhere can be most proud of, while at the same time contemplating universal themes that everyone outside the borders of the country can relate to.

The film contains that familiar 'Number 8 fencing wire' mentality that resonates throughout New Zealand society - and also echoes those tropes of masculinity that are so prominent within the National cinema: Burt tinkers with his 1920 Indian Motorcycle with the most unexpected results, using common household objects; he travels to the Bonneville Saltflats in Utah alone, getting by on his wit; and has that dry sense of humour that is familiar around these parts. It also contains the familiar 'man Alone' motif, but in a foreign country, and also touches on that other image of New Zealand men tinkering in their sheds. The film is, what I would call, blatantly Kiwi.

Wider themes that surface are of isolation, alienation, and beating the odds to achieve your dream. What I can definitely say about 'The World's Fastest Indian', is that it's very refreshing - this is no typical underdog story; it's a story that proves that you're never too old to follow through with a dream you've had for years. It was great to have a protagonist that was older than the usual one in contemporary movies, and seemed to give the film more of an anchoring in reality. It makes it far more easier to believe in the story and it's motivations, and heightens the sense of isolation one sometimes goes through when following your heart.

Sir Anthony Hopkins does an amazing job as Burt Munro - the New Zealand accent is impeccable, aside from one or two vowel sounds. His subtleties communicate an intense psychological battle and determination to get the chance to achieve his dream, and his typical sense of humour is wonderful. I'm not sure how accurate this portrayal of Burt Munro is, but the screen character is engaging and pulls the audience in for a solid 2 hours as we watch Burt battle with his demons, and the lack of people's belief in his achieving his goal.

All in all, 'The World's Fastest Indian' is a fantastic film that New Zealanders can be proud of, soaked with Kiwi humour and a character that will remind a lot of us of our grandfathers and that older generation that never complained and got on with life, no matter what they were up against. For international audiences, it's a wonderful underdog story about an older man who had never given up on getting his chance to achieve his dream.

'The World's Fastest Indian' is a fantastic film, and will inspire anyone who gets the chance to see it. Roger Donaldson continues his fine tradition of great movies, and all Kiwis should hold him up to the same heights as they do that other Jackson fulla!