World's fastest indian feature page for Japanese screening
19 Oct 2006
It was on Oreti Beach that New Zealand motorcycle legend Burt Munro raced and tested the speed of his beloved 1920 Indian Scout bike, notching up the miles towards breaking a clutch of world speed records. Now, the life and spirit of the daring New Zealander, has been recreated in 'The World's Fastest Indian', directed by fellow Kiwi, Roger Donaldson.
Academy Award winner Sir Anthony Hopkins known for his roles in 'The Remains of the Day' and 'The Silence of the Lambs', travelled to the deep south for the 11-week shoot. Hopkins mastered the Kiwi accent to deliver a touching and realistic depiction of Burt Munro.
Filming of 'The World's Fastest Indian' wrapped late December 2004, in Munro's hometown of Invercargill, a city of 50,000 people at the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island.
Much of the story is set in Southland, a lush, unspoilt landscape, where Munro lived his 78 years, becoming a paradigm of courage, perseverance, skill and ingenuity.
Thousands of locals in Invercargill, at the southern tip of the South Island, offered their services to the film, the story of local motorcycle legend Burt Munro, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Producer Gary Hannam says although film-making was a new experience in this corner of the world, Invercargill was a great base for a film. 'Having excellent industries there, like engineering, was just as important as having the right scenery.'
'We could have filmed this movie anywhere, but we wanted to do it in Invercargill, where Burt Munro was from. The locals were incredibly co-operative and enthusiastic, and the quality of the extras was wonderful.' Even the colourful local mayor, Tim Shadbolt, took a role in the film.
The crew spent several weeks at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah - where Munro set world speed records on his beloved Indian Scout bike - before moving to New Zealand to film the rest of the movie over 11 weeks through until Christmas 2004. Much of the filming was shot on Oreti Beach, a wide arc of white sand where Munro would test-drive his motorbikes, overlooking the waters of Foveaux Strait.
The wide streets of Invercargill, and the elegant Victorian and Edwardian buildings which border them, also played their part in Munro's life story set in the 1960s. The world premiere of The World's Fastest Indian was held in the city's 100-year-old Civic Theatre in October 2005.
Screening at Tokyo Film Festival
10/22 13:50 - 16:27(open13:30)
TOHO CINEMAS ROPPONGI HILLS SCREEN7
Guest: John Munro[Burt Munro's grandchild]
http://www.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=46
(English site available)
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