IMDb > The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
The World's Fastest Indian
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The World's Fastest Indian (2005) More at IMDbPro »

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The World's Fastest Indian (2005) -- The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.
The World's Fastest Indian (2005) -- Clip: Holy Ground
The World's Fastest Indian (2005) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   17,694 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Roger Donaldson (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The World's Fastest Indian on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 October 2005 (New Zealand) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Based On One Hell Of A True Story more
Plot:
The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
10 wins & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Nicolas Cage to Star in Hungry Rabbit Jumps
 (From ReelzChannel. 8 September 2009, 4:29 AM, PDT)

Roger Donaldson Making Umbra
 (From EmpireOnline. 26 May 2009, 12:20 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Blatantly Kiwi, surprisingly Universal more (234 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief language, drug use and a sexual reference.
Runtime:
127 min
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The gang's motorcycles are Triumphs with one BSA and 1 AJS. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Burt talks about his twin brother and tells Tom a story about how he died as a youngster. The real Burt Munro had a twin sister who died at birth. more
Quotes:
Fran: [to a staring crowd] What are you looking at? Dirty old men need love too! more
Movie Connections:
References Broken Barrier (1952) more
Soundtrack:
Kiss Twist more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
141 out of 156 people found the following comment useful.
Blatantly Kiwi, surprisingly Universal, 18 November 2005
10/10
Author: notallowedtohug from New Zealand

'The World's Fastest Indian' is a unique movie that not only provides a film that New Zealanders anywhere can be most proud of, while at the same time contemplating universal themes that everyone outside the borders of the country can relate to.

The film contains that familiar 'Number 8 fencing wire' mentality that resonates throughout New Zealand society - and also echoes those tropes of masculinity that are so prominent within the National cinema: Burt tinkers with his 1920 Indian Motorcycle with the most unexpected results, using common household objects; he travels to the Bonneville Saltflats in Utah alone, getting by on his wit; and has that dry sense of humour that is familiar around these parts. It also contains the familiar 'man Alone' motif, but in a foreign country, and also touches on that other image of New Zealand men tinkering in their sheds. The film is, what I would call, blatantly Kiwi.

Wider themes that surface are of isolation, alienation, and beating the odds to achieve your dream. What I can definitely say about 'The World's Fastest Indian', is that it's very refreshing - this is no typical underdog story; it's a story that proves that you're never too old to follow through with a dream you've had for years. It was great to have a protagonist that was older than the usual one in contemporary movies, and seemed to give the film more of an anchoring in reality. It makes it far more easier to believe in the story and it's motivations, and heightens the sense of isolation one sometimes goes through when following your heart.

Sir Anthony Hopkins does an amazing job as Burt Munro - the New Zealand accent is impeccable, aside from one or two vowel sounds. His subtleties communicate an intense psychological battle and determination to get the chance to achieve his dream, and his typical sense of humour is wonderful. I'm not sure how accurate this portrayal of Burt Munro is, but the screen character is engaging and pulls the audience in for a solid 2 hours as we watch Burt battle with his demons, and the lack of people's belief in his achieving his goal.

All in all, 'The World's Fastest Indian' is a fantastic film that New Zealanders can be proud of, soaked with Kiwi humour and a character that will remind a lot of us of our grandfathers and that older generation that never complained and got on with life, no matter what they were up against. For international audiences, it's a wonderful underdog story about an older man who had never given up on getting his chance to achieve his dream.

'The World's Fastest Indian' is a fantastic film, and will inspire anyone who gets the chance to see it. Roger Donaldson continues his fine tradition of great movies, and all Kiwis should hold him up to the same heights as they do that other Jackson fulla!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
From the Movie - Nevada did have no speed limit over thirty years ago ILoveWinona-1
I f'n hated this film greg3
Could have left out the Drag queen don't you think?? kingnitro
$29 for a cab ride in the 60's? osp80
8.0 but hardly any awards JHT
Movies similar to this one? andreas-lestander
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