THE MOUNTAIN/ TE MAUNGA

New Zealand/ Aetearoa, 2024, 89 minutes, Colour.

Elizabeth Atkinson, Terrence Daniel, Reuben Francis, Byron Coll, Troy Kingi, Sukena Shah, Fern Sutherland.

Directed by Rachel House.

This is a film for youngsters, about youngsters.

The three characters who set out on a climb of Mount Taranaki (on the West Coast of the North Island of New Zealand) are 11 years old, as were the three children who acted here for the first time. And The Mountain will be a film that youngsters, probably between 9 and 13, will not only enjoy but find both interesting and entertaining, well worth talking about.

We are introduced to the three, a girl and two boys. The girl, Sam (Elizabeth Atkinson), is doing some martial arts moves but we soon find that she is in hospital, has cancer, is fussed over by her mother, but has never known her father. Then there is a chubby boy, Mallory (Reuben Francis) doing imaginary strumming. He is a sad boy, his father somewhat withdrawn at the death of his wife, and Mallory grieving for his mother. Then they encounter a Maori boy, Bronco (Terrence Daniel, with his bicycle, feeling rebellious towards his father a security guard at the hospital.

Sam’s great desire is to achieve something, climb to the top of Mount Taranaki, not quite aware of her Maori background, but moved by the mountain and its mystery, a religious and psychological link, parenting mountains. In fact, as the three come together and set out on the venture, Bronco, proud of his Maori heritage, speaking the language, knowing the traditions, a believer in earth harmony, devout in his respect for his heritage, helps the audience appreciate what is happening and what was a venture, then an adventure, now a quest.

The young audience can identify with these three characters, unknown to each other at first, steps in bonding, help in danger in crossing a bridge and one falling into the river, making decisions to camp out, communications with their parents, the decision whether they can get to the top or not.

While the parents are supporting characters here, they are quite well drawn, the over-loving mother, her daughter’s crisis in wanting to know something of her father, Bronco’s big father, a nice man but not realising how he has neglected his son, Mallory’s father caught up in grief, failing to appreciate his son’s sadness and emotional needs. And there is an enjoyably deadpan friend character, Peachy.

Which means then that the Mountain is a family film in the best sense.

The local photography has moments of beauty, the mystery of the mountain. The emphasis on the Maori heritage is explicit, opening up the culture to a wider audience. And, there is a common sensed approach as to how the quest finishes, real, rather than romanticised.

And a compliment to actress, Rachel House, seen in many New Zealand and Australian film and television productions, always down-to-earth with a touch of humour. This is her first film as director, has adapted a story which originally was three Pakaha /white children, incorporating the strong Maori elements.

Because senior primary school students would enjoy this film and find it helpful to discuss, Pixar’s original Inside Out came to mind, that enjoyable film which dramatised and personalised children’s emotions. And they are right here on screen, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear. It would be very interesting to hear teachers and children talking about the Inside one emotions as they see them in the three children in The Mountain.

1. The title, Mount Taranaki, the Maori title, a goal for a quest, the parenting Maori tradition of mountains?
2. The location photography, the town, homes, hospital, outside the town, the beauty of the mountain, night and day, clouds and sun, the mountainside and the track? The musical score? (And the popular song themes?)
3. The target audience, youngsters, especially 9-13, for parents and appreciation of children, for teachers, for discussions and values?
4. The introduction to Sam, martial arts, 11, hospital, the other patients, cancer, her friendship with Peachy, their discussions? Peachy deadpan? The protective mother? The absent father and the mystery? Her being drawn to the Mountain, wanting to climb it, something interior in her heart, her need to articulate it? The decision to climb the mountain, not to tell her mother, plan with Peachy, the escape? The balloons?
5. The introduction to Mallory, air guitar, chubby, 11, his mother’s death and his grief, communicating with her, his father, sad, the photo, weeping? Her love for mountain climbing, his wanting to climb with his father? His father’s reaction to him, putting him down? Going to school?
6. The introduction to Bronco, Maori, relationship with his father, father seen on the roof, security guard, while Sam and Peachy were trying to elude him? Bronco and his bike? Feeling his father neglected him? The importance of the environment and rubbish? Wonders with nature? Speaking the Maori language, knowing the background, explaining the mystical elements?
7. Their coinciding, Mallory and Sam’s list, the food, the tents…? Their going together?
8. The bonding, misunderstandings, the episode with the bridge, Mallory falling into the water, unable to swim, dog paddling, Sam’s important stick, Bronco with the lassoo? Eating, Bronco and his prayer? The fog, the path, the parents coming, going off track, camping for the night, Mallory and Bronco talking, their concern about Sam, whether she could go on? Her injury? Her determination, continuing, the two boys deciding to form a barrier, that she would not pass? The clouds passing, the vision of the top of the mountain, satisfying Sam?
9. The parents, overprotective mother, not revealing the father? Bronco’s father, security guard, the clashes, Bronco feeling neglected? His concern? Mallory’s father, concern, Peachy trying to avoid the search, their travelling together, phone communication, their not being in the hut? Their being reassured, the continued search? Finding the three, and the apologies from each parent?
10. Sam back in hospital, accepting her illness, the possibility of her death, the Maori background? Mallory with his father? Bronco reconciled with his father?
11. An authentic exploration of three children, their sadness, their hopes, relationships with parents, parents and reconciliation with their children?