fastest Indian

The World’s Fastest Indian – Roger Donaldson

Spontaneous applause broke out in the cinema at the end of this movie. It’s been a long time since I heard that. And it was fully justified. This film is genuinely sentimental, warm-hearted, gentle, nostalgic, very funny and moving. Its dramatic climax is as tense and exciting as anything I have seen recently in the cinema. Pure magic. That spontaneous expression of pleasure and satisfaction from the audience at the end was as important in many as ways as the film itself. In a cynical, knowing and often ugly world, it is somehow encouraging to hear evidence that people will still respond to a good honest story, well told in a simple, direct, transparent way.

Guys, if you ever had a dream as a kid, go see this movie and feel again the intensity you felt at the time. Gals, if you have ever loved the little boy in every half-way decent man, go and be seduced by the charm of this little gem. The film is critic proof in a good way. It invites and fully deserves, to be forgiven any little faults or slightly clunky moments. It engages you from the start and draws you in to a fascinating, essentially true, story that just makes you feel good. Although Burt Munro the hero, naturally as a New Zealander, protests several times in the movie at being thought to be a pommie, at heart there is a very British, perhaps even English spirit in it: again, in a good way.

Tony Hopkins simply relishes his superb role, consummately played. Like everyone else Burt meets in the movie, you are rooting for this truly extraordinary, ordinary bloke from the off. Eccentric, wise, absurdly but harmlessly obsessive about his 1920’s low-slung ‘Indian’ motor cycle. The riding position of this strange machine looks like that required for a prostate examination and just about as comfortable. Aptly so, as much wry humour is derived from Burt’s long sufferance of this inconvenient ailment alleviated every morning by watering his lemon tree by a method not usually recommended by your local nursery.

Writer and Director Roger Donaldson, co-founder of the New Zealand Film Commission has fashioned a movie to be proud of. From an oft-told, even hackneyed storyline, this cinematic Rumplestiltskin has spun pure gold out of ordinary straw.

You can take anyone of any age to this movie with some confidence they will fall under its spell. The only sadness is that when we look at its reminder of the social attitudes of more innocent times some 40 years ago, we realise we have, almost unnoticed, lost something precious with our increased cynicism and knowingness, however justified. Enjoy….and if they clap at the end – join in.

Filed under: 4 stars, Drama, General, Hollywood, Humorous, Roger Donaldson