The World's Fastest Indian

Inspired by the ageing Burt Munro — who took his home-engineered motorbike to America, and won a land speed record — this passion project was Roger Donaldson's first locally made film in two decades. Variety called it a "geriatric Rocky on wheels”; Roger Ebert praised Anthony Hopkins' performance as one of the most endearing of his career. The result sold to 126 countries, spent five weeks in the Australian top six, and became Aotearoa's highest-grossing local film — at least until Boy in 2010. Alongside an excerpt and making of material, Costa Botes writes about the film here. 

This is one of Anthony Hopkins' most endearing, least showy performances. (Hopkins) is concerned here with the precise behavior of a quiet, introverted man who is simultaneously obsessed and a little muddled. It's as if his fellow racing drivers have been visited by a traveler from the dawn of their sport, when guys tinkered with their machines in the tool shed and roared up and down country roads. Burt Munro is a man for whom the world seems brand-new.

– Roger Ebert, reviewing The World's Fastest Indian, 3 February 2006

Key Cast & Crew

Rob Gillies

Production Design

Anthony Hopkins

As: Burt Munro

Roger Donaldson

Director, Writer, Producer

Annie Whittle

As: Fran

John Gilbert

Editor

Gary Hannam

Producer