What’s the most underrated movie you’ve ever watched?
One of the most underrated films I’ve watched is The World’s Fastest Indian, starring Anthony Hopkins. It tells the true story of Burt Munro, an eccentric New Zealander who spends years tinkering with an old Indian motorcycle before travelling to America to attempt a world speed record. It’s a delightful film. Funny, quirky and somehow distinctly Kiwi.
One of my favourite scenes has nothing to do with motorcycles. Burt is working away in his shed, getting ready for his big adventure. Meanwhile, his house is falling into disrepair and the lawn is getting ridiculously long. The neighbours are complaining, and something needs to be done. Burt has a solution. He pours petrol over the grass, lights a match and gets back to work. Problem solved.
I love that scene. It captures something of Burt’s character. He’s resourceful, stubborn, unconventional and not particularly worried about what other people think. He doesn’t have much money or sophisticated equipment, but he’s remarkably good at making do with what he’s got. And he’s not about to let a little thing like growing old get in the way of a dream.
But there’s more to the film than an old bloke trying to make a motorcycle go faster. What I particularly enjoy is the way Burt engages with people. As he travels across America, he meets all sorts of characters. He’s curious about them, interested in their lives and wonderfully open to whatever comes his way. And, more often than not, people respond with kindness and generosity.
Burt isn’t perfect. He’s an oddball, and some of his ideas are frankly ridiculous. But he’s also a man who hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for life. He still has things he wants to do, things he wants to learn and people he wants to meet.
I think that’s what makes the film special. It’s not really about breaking a speed record. It’s about refusing to let life become smaller as we grow older. And it’s about approaching the world with enough curiosity and goodwill to discover that other people are often more generous than we expect.
Perhaps that’s why I find The World’s Fastest Indian so appealing. It’s a good-hearted film about a good-hearted man, and it manages to be inspiring without taking itself too seriously.
There’s something to be said for growing older without losing your sense of adventure, your faith in other people or your ability to laugh at yourself. Even if you don’t get around to mowing the lawn.
What’s the most underrated movie you’ve ever watched?
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