The World's Fastest Indian
DIR: Roger Donaldson • WRI: Roger Donaldson • PROD: Roger Donaldson, Gary Hannam •DOP: David Gribble • ED: John Gilbert • DES: Robert Gillies, J. Dennis Washington • CAST: Anthony Hopkins, Diane Ladd, Paul Rodriguez

The World's Fastest Indian is a based-on-a-true-story, follow-your-dream road-movie about the New Zealand legend, Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins), who spent a lifetime tinkering with his 1920 Indian Scout Motorcycle and set off from the Antipodes to break the land-speed record (which still stands today) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

This is Roger Donaldson´s second tribute to Munro; his documentary Offerings to the God of Speed was a low-budget project filmed in 1971 with his collaborator Mike Smith, and the precursor of the Fastest Indian script. His long-standing passion for motorbikes and Munro have nourished Donaldson's interest to put it all together on the big screen. The result is a conventional inspiring tale of hope, which doesn't rely that much on speed-related issues, but more on a don't-give-up philosophy of life.

The film opens with Anthony Hopkins but, as the story progresses, Hopkins gradually dissolves into the larger-than-life character Munro, an eccentric man who lives and works in a grotty shed. The entire neighbourhood is hostile to his early mechanical commotion, except for the kid next door, Tom, an undaunted fan of his. Despite the general scepticism, Burt raises the money for his project; carrying a heart condition, a prostate disease, and the 'Indian' all together, he embarks on his journey to the other side of the world.

The road-movie part of the story begins with his arrival in the States, where Hopkins greatly enriches his character by battling the cultural differences with charming grace. Along the way he encounters a motley group of strangers who don't much affect the storyline, but through which we receive an enjoyable portrait of Munro.

The cinematography, particularly during the motorcycle sequences, is very captivating, even for a non-speed fanatic like the undersigned. Predictable but still touching, The World's Fastest Indian has good gags, and it leaves one intrigued about this national hero's early days.

Nerea McAymerich

Rated PG (see IFCO website for details)
The World's Fastest Indian is released nationwide on 10th March 2006.
The World's Fastest Indian - Official website