Modern-day Kiwi kidult adventure for all whānau
Eleven-year-old Sam (Elizabeth Atkinson) is on a mission – and she’s determined to not let anything – or anyone – stand in her way. Her goal is to climb Mt Taranaki, her maunga that she believes is her only hope of defeating the cancer that has plagued her young life so far. But first, there’s the small matter of breaking out of her hospital “prison”.
With the help of fellow “inmate” Peachy (Sukena Shah), Sam hopes there will be enough of a diversion created to distract her overbearing mother (Fern Sutherland) and give her the head start she needs.
However, once liberation is achieved, Sam quickly discovers that her energy levels are not as good as she’d hoped. And she’s going to need supplies.
Enter Mallory (Reuben Francis), recently robbed of his mother, newly arrived in Inglewood and desperately short of friends. Initially, Sam is reluctant to share her journey, but his promise of marshmallows and willingness to more than share the load eventually persuades her otherwise – although being her “sherpa” comes with a few conditions. “You’ll carry all my things, make it to the top first and get no credit,” Sam deadpans.
Then, as they encounter the first of potentially many obstacles on their quest (an electric fence), they also meet up with Bronco (Terrence Daniel), who is more than keen to come along for the ride – on his beloved bike “Black Beauty”.
But, his presence also comes with an increased threat that their expedition could be thwarted – after all, his father is the local cop (Troy Kingi).
Effortlessly charming, serial scenestealer Rachel House’s (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Heartbreak High) directorial debut is a Kiwi kidult adventure that will bring back memories of a time when New Zealand ruled the world with such fare.
While it’s a delight to finally see a local movie aimed at our tweens and early teens, it’s also a tale that adults should get out and thoroughly enjoy along with their tamariki and mokopuna, before recounting the glory days of The Mad Dog Gang, Under the Mountain and The Fire-Raiser.
And while the terrific young trio will steal your heart – newcomer Atkinson a particular standout – Kingi, Sutherland and Byron Coll also deserve plenty of plaudits for ensuring their “flawed, but concerned” parents are more than just one-dimensional adults.
But really, most of the plaudits should deservedly go to House and her co-writer, 7 Days veteran Tom Furniss.
The Mountain manages to deliver a potent mix of laughs and pathos, fantasy (things take a Stranger Things-esque turn at one point) and very real emotional drama all wrapped in a fabulous package that features liberal doses of our gorgeous landscape and trademark Kiwi deadpan humour.
It also boasts the best ever use of subtitles (to helpfully – and sometimes hilariously – translate the reo that’s weaved naturally into particularly the kids’ dialogue) in a New Zealand movie.
While a kind of spiritual, slightly more whole-whānau-friendly companion piece to Taika Waititi’s Wilderpeople, The Mountain is also very much its own movie that deserves to find as wide an audience across Aotearoa as possible.
In English and Māori with English subtitles, The Mountain is in cinemas nationwide.