THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN

New Zealand/US, 2005, 116 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Aaron Murphy, Diane Ladd, Christopher Lawford, Paul Rodriguez, Chris Williams.
Directed by Roger Donaldson.

Roger Donaldson left Australia at the time of conscription for the Vietnam War. He moved to New Zealand and made documentaries and the feature films, Sleeping Dogs and Smash Palace. With The Bounty, he began an international career that has lasted over twenty years. During his documentary days, he met Burt Munro, a veteran of motorcycle racing and breaking speed records.

Now he has returned to New Zealand and his love for his adoptive country to make a feature film on Burt Munro. It needs to be said at once that the Indian of the title refers to Burt’s bike (or motorcicle as he pronounces it), made in Massachusetts in the 1930s and is not a reference to actual native American Indians. Donaldson has not just directed. He wrote the screenplay as well and consulted Burt Munro’s three children.

The Burt who emerges from the film is a cheerful, older bloke from the Southern hemisphere who is not used to American ways and who bemuses and amuses the Yanks. He never misses an opportunity to tell them that he is from the other side of the world, proud of New Zealand.

We find him in Invercargill, revving up his cicle, disturbing the neighbour’s peace but someone whom their young son, Tom (a natural performance by Aaron Murphy) likes spending time with. Burt’s aim is to get to Bonneville, the dry lake speed course in Utah. Between several jigs and quite some reels, he actually gets the money and sets __off – with everyone’s good wishes though not with everyone’s expectations that he could break a record.

The New Zealand 1960s sequences have the homely touch.

The rest of the film is Burt’s arrival in LA (not a world he is used to) , his road journey to Utah and his endeavours at Bonneville – which sometimes leaves the spectators aghast.

This is a genial film, a Rocky for the older generation (or, as 79 year old Stan Freberg remarked, ‘the chronologically gifted’). Burt meets all kinds of people along the way and wins them over (except the disgruntled LA taxi driver). The people include the screen’s most genial and kindly transvestite, a nice used car salesman, an actual Indian and his family and a very eager and lonely widow.

There is a credit for Anthony Hopkins’ dialogue coach, but his accent (while definitely from the Southern hemisphere, seems a sometimes bizarre mixture). But Hopkins gives his character a warmth and sincere naiveté that is engaging. Just as Burt wins over all the people he meets, so he wins over the audience (except anyone who resembles the grumbling taxi driver).

1.A feelgood film? A sense of achievement? The Rocky tradition – and the ordinary and the underdog achieving wonders?

2.A New Zealand story, South Island, Invercargill? The spirit of New Zealand – and the references in the screenplay? Burt Munro and his continued reference to himself as a Kiwi and his references to New Zealand?

3.New Zealand in the 1960s, Invercargill, the attention to detail of the town, the suburbs, the banks, the halls? Authentic? The musical score and the songs of the 60s?

4.The American settings, California, Hollywood, the motel, the garage, Longbeach and the customs house? The Nevada desert, the service stations, the cafés? Utah and Bonneville? The feel for America in the 60s? Utah and the salt plains?

5.The title, the meaning, the motor cycle and its vintage status? The Indian? The overtones of American Indians – and Burt and his meeting the Indian family?

6.The world of speed, engines, motorcycles, racing, the breaking of records? The Speed Week at Bonneville, the drawing of people all over the world, people active, spectators?

7.The film based on a true story, an actual character?

8.Burt: Anthony Hopkins’ presence and performance, accent? Age, experience, the background of his family? His getting up in the morning, his shed, working out on the beach? Testing out his machines and the noise in the early morning? The complaints of the neighbours? His not mowing his grass? At work in his shed, Tom and his devotion and helping him, good friends? The cycle club and the range of friends in the suburb? His relationship with Fran, the sexual relationship? Going to the bank, wanting a loan, Fran’s suggestions? The interview with the bank manager? The issue of the mortgage? Getting his money to go to America? The friends and their support? Going to the dance, the twist, the speeches? The bikies and their challenge, the race – and his failing? Their giving him the money for the journey? Seeing him make the piston in his shed? Tom getting his mother’s knives, his mother reclaiming them? Burt’s personality, sense of humour, straightforward? His heart attack, going to the hospital? His setting fire to the lawn to clear it? The farewells? Everybody expecting him to fail?

9.Going on the boat, the cargo ship? His being assigned to be the cook, his lack of experience, the meals and people’s reactions? The offhand attitude of the captain? His making friends with the crew, trying to get them off smoking, watching the movies with them? An enjoyable voyage and making friends?

10.Passport control, his explanations and the official’s suspicions? The man who had read the magazine article about him? Their letting him through, wishing him well? His going back to customs? The bad packing of the bike, opening it, everybody helping him, no damage?

11.Longbeach, getting the taxi to Los Angeles, the taxi driver and his not helping, criticisms? Tina and her help at the motel? Helping him with the breakfast? The transvestite and her personality, friendly? Burt mistaking her for a girl, her explanation? Her driving him around, helping him take delivery of the bike? A sympathetic presentation of Tina?

12.His going to buy the car, discussions with Fernando, his genial attitude, his bargain, fixing the car, Fernando working all night with him, sleeping in the car? His helping fix other cars? Fernando offering him a job?

13.The trip, the range of people he encountered? An American odyssey through California, Nevada and Utah? Wanting a cup of tea at the diner and everybody’s reaction? The wheel coming off and his recovering it, the help from the Indian, going to his house, the discussions, being given the token? His gratitude? The various people and their hospitality?

14.His visit to Ada, her life story, widow? Helping him with the bike? Her talking, spending the night, her wanting him to return?

15.His arrival, the achievement of just getting to Bonneville? The issue of registration and his not knowing, the officials and their reaction? Jim Moffett and his being the champion, friendly with Burt? The other men at the rally, their friendship, supporting him? The girls? The rules, the discussions, getting Jim on-side, Jim trying to persuade the officials? Burt sleeping in his car?

16.The test, the bike failing the regulations? Jim and the rules, the friends giving him the room at the hotel?

17.The officials allowing him to bend the rules, the first test, it not being sufficient? Getting the batteries, making the new piston? The suggestion about asbestos for his legs – but his not being able to fit in the cabin?

18.The achievement, the ride, the speed, the people and their support, his burning his legs? The trophy and the celebration of his win?

19.The phone call to Tom, his return to Invercargill, Tom’s father mowing the lawn? The gathering of friends, Fran bringing him home? His great sense of achievement?

20.The postscript about his career, his return trips to Bonneville, his record still standing? The achievement of the ordinary citizen, the old man and people considering him beyond achievement? The tradition of the Rocky films and this sense of achievement?