Feature Film
The World's Fastest Indian
2005
Filmed In
Southland
Towns & Areas
Invercargill · Oreti Beach
The Story
The ultimate, feel-good true story of Burt Munro, an eccentric, charming elderly man from the bottom of the world who spends years modifying his classic 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle, eventually traveling to Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats to set a land speed record.
The Stars
Anthony Hopkins delivers a masterclass performance as Burt Munro. Hopkins carries a story shot in Munro's real hometown, giving the film a grounded authenticity rare for its genre.
Behind the Lens
Kiwi director Roger Donaldson. Donaldson's decades-long connection to the real Burt Munro shaped the tone of the finished film considerably.
Why NZ?
The film celebrates a true-blue New Zealand folk hero. Filming took place in Munro's actual hometown of Invercargill and along the dramatic, wide-open expanse of Oreti Beach, where Burt used to test-ride his motorcycle at terrifying speeds. Filming in Munro's real hometown gave the production an authenticity that a studio recreation simply couldn't match.
On Set
Anthony Hopkins and director Roger Donaldson had nearly come to blows decades earlier on the set of The Bounty — this film marked a 23-year reconciliation between the two. For Donaldson, it was the payoff of a 30-year passion project, dating back to a documentary he shot about the real Burt Munro in 1971.
Legacy
Based on the real life of Burt Munro, the film was a genuine passion project for director Roger Donaldson, who first documented Munro on film decades earlier in 1971.
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