The World's Fastest Indian

The World's Fastest Indian is a biographical movie about New Zealand folk hero Burt Munro, who set several land speed records in the 1950's and 60's using his Indian Scout motorcycle. Anthony Hopkins portrays Munro as a down-to-earth man who dreams of one day racing his bike at Bonneville Speed Week in Utah. The film opens with Burt as an eccentric mechanic in Invercargill, New Zealand who is always tinkering on his motorcycle, always attempting to make it go faster. He decides that, as he is not getting any younger, he needs to fulfill a lifelong wish. So, he hops on a cargo ship. He arrives in America and is immediately beset by big city problems, yet manages to use his affable small-town demeanor to win over people and move forward. He meets a colorful cast of characters, with whom he imparts a bit of himself as they help him along the way. He finally arrives at Bonneville, where he attempts to set the motorcycle land speed record. The film portrays his journey as one of striving for dreams and sharing a bit of the kinder side of life to that which we know to be all so maddening.