Revirvlkodlaku (talk | contribs) Changing short description from "2024 film by Rachel House" to "New Zealand comedy drama film by Rachel House" Tag: Shortdesc helper |
Ricoandco73 (talk | contribs) →Critical reception: Fixed typo Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
||
(10 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|New Zealand comedy drama film by Rachel House}} |
{{Short description|New Zealand comedy drama film by Rachel House}} |
||
{{italic title}} |
{{italic title}} |
||
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2024}} |
||
{{Infobox film |
{{Infobox film |
||
| name = |
| name = |
||
| image = |
| image = The Mountain 2024 film poster.jpg |
||
| director = [[Rachel House (actress)|Rachel House]]<ref name="NZ On Screen">{{cite web |title=The Mountain |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-mountain-2024/credits |website=NZ On Screen |publisher=[[New Zealand On Air]] |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref> |
| director = [[Rachel House (actress)|Rachel House]]<ref name="NZ On Screen">{{cite web |title=The Mountain |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-mountain-2024/credits |website=NZ On Screen |publisher=[[New Zealand On Air]] |access-date=30 April 2024 |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430135451/https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-mountain-2024/credits |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
| producer = {{Plainlist| |
| producer = {{Plainlist| |
||
*Desray Armstrong<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
*Desray Armstrong<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
||
Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
*[[Fern Sutherland]]<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
*[[Fern Sutherland]]<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
||
}} |
}} |
||
| music = Arli Liberman<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
| music = [[Arli Liberman]]<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
||
| cinematography = Matt Henley<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
| cinematography = Matt Henley<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
||
| editing = Cushla Dillon<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
| editing = Cushla Dillon<ref name="NZ On Screen" /> |
||
Line 39: | Line 40: | ||
'''''The Mountain''''' is a 2024 New Zealand [[comedy drama]] and [[Coming-of-age story|coming of age]] film directed by [[Rachel House (actress)|Rachel House]], based on a screenplay by House and [[Tom Furniss]]. The film is about a young girl named Sam seeking to reconnect with her [[Māori culture]] with the help of her friends Mallory and Bronco. The movie stars Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis and Terence Daniel.<ref name="Film Commission">{{cite web |title=The Mountain |url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/films/mountain |publisher=[[New Zealand Film Commission]] |access-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419010646/https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/films/mountain |archive-date=19 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film held its world premiere at [[New Plymouth]] on 19 March 2024 and was released nationwide on 28 March.<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024">{{cite news |title=World premiere of The Mountain to be held in Taranaki |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/507052/world-premiere-of-the-mountain-to-be-held-in-taranaki |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419010636/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/507052/world-premiere-of-the-mountain-to-be-held-in-taranaki |archive-date=19 April 2024}}</ref> |
'''''The Mountain''''' is a 2024 New Zealand [[comedy drama]] and [[Coming-of-age story|coming of age]] film directed by [[Rachel House (actress)|Rachel House]], based on a screenplay by House and [[Tom Furniss]]. The film is about a young girl named Sam seeking to reconnect with her [[Māori culture]] with the help of her friends Mallory and Bronco. The movie stars Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis and Terence Daniel.<ref name="Film Commission">{{cite web |title=The Mountain |url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/films/mountain |publisher=[[New Zealand Film Commission]] |access-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419010646/https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/films/mountain |archive-date=19 April 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film held its world premiere at [[New Plymouth]] on 19 March 2024 and was released nationwide on 28 March.<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024">{{cite news |title=World premiere of The Mountain to be held in Taranaki |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/507052/world-premiere-of-the-mountain-to-be-held-in-taranaki |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419010636/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/507052/world-premiere-of-the-mountain-to-be-held-in-taranaki |archive-date=19 April 2024}}</ref> |
||
== |
==Plot summary== |
||
The film focuses on three eleven year-old children in [[New Plymouth]]. Sam is mixed-[[Māori people|Māori]] and [[European New Zealander]]/[[Pakeha]] girl undergoing [[chemotherapy]] at a hospital. She and her Pakeha mother Wendy have no contact with her Māori birth father. Mallory is a Pakeha boy whose father Hugh is grieving the loss of his mother. Bronco is a Māori boy who moved with his father Tux to New Plymouth. Tux works long hours as a Police constable. |
|||
''Sam, a fearless young girl raised outside of her [[Māori culture]], is determined to fulfil her mission of connecting with her mountain in the hope they can heal her from the cancer she battles. Along the way she meets some misfits and new kids in town – Mallory, hoping to find friends, any kind of friends - and Bronco who claims to be a runaway from his dad who is too busy to notice him. As they make their way through the difficult “off the beaten track” route, they learn the true spirit of adventure and the magic of friendship.''<ref name="Film Commission" /> |
|||
Seeking to climb [[Mount Taranaki]], Sam escapes the hospital with the connivance of fellow patient Peachy. She enlists the help of Mallory in obtaining supplies and serving as her guide. The two are subsequently joined by Bronco, who helps Sam to reconnect with her [[Māori culture]]. The three children take an unofficial route to Mount Taranaki which involves navigating through a golf course, farmland, and a rickety rope bridge. While crossing the bridge, Mallory falls into the river but is saved by Bronco. Bronco later uses his bush skills to build a camp fire and tells his friends about a [[Mount Taranaki legend|Māori legend]] about the origins of Mount Taranaki. |
|||
Meanwhile, the adults along with Peachy separately search for the three children, taking an official rout. After Wendy receives a social media image of the children by a campfire, they realise that the three missing children are travelling together. The following morning, Mallory has a falling out with Sam after learning that she lied about her parents being dead. Bronco convinces Mallory to reconcile with Sam. The two help Sam after she injures her leg. |
|||
As they approach Mount Taranaki, the adults and Peachy close in on them. Having issues with their parents, the children persevere and create an improvised obstacle using Bronco's bike and their travel packs. Continuing their quest, they encounter a fog. The trio also visit a cave with glowworms. Sam gets weaker due to her cancer condition. After getting lost walking in circles, Mallory and Bronco convince Sam that Mount Taranaki is trying to tell her that she does not need to climb to the summit in her weakened condition. After deciding to return to their parents, the fog mysteriously lifts. |
|||
Following their adventure on Mount Taranaki, the three kids and their families become close friends. Mallory and Bronco have ambitions of climbing Mount Taranaki again. |
|||
==Cast== |
==Cast== |
||
Line 55: | Line 64: | ||
==Production== |
==Production== |
||
===Development and writing=== |
===Development and writing=== |
||
[[File:Rachel House by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|left|[[Rachel House (actress)|Rachel House]] (pictured) directed ''The Mountain'' and co-wrote the script with [[Tom Furniss]]]] |
|||
⚫ | ''The Mountain''{{'s}} script was co-written by [[Tom Furniss]] and [[Rachel House (actress)|Rachel House]]. The film also marked House's directorial debut.<ref name="Deadline">{{cite web |last1=Ntim |first1=Zac |title='The Mountain:' Production Wraps On Kiwi Family Drama Executive Produced By Taika Waititi |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/the-mountain-taika-waititi-rachel-house-new-zealand-1235366630/ |website=[[Deadline (website)|Deadline]] |access-date=30 April 2024 |date=15 May 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Furniss' original script centred around three [[Pakeha]]/[[European New Zealander]] boys climbing the mountain. House, who is [[Māori people|Māori]], revised the script to incorporate Māori characters, culture and stories. While Mallory remained Pakeha, Sam and Bronco were revised as Māori, with Sam becoming a girl. House also introduced the idea of having Sam reconnect with her Māori cultural heritage in the story.<ref name="The Spinoff 27 Mar 2024">{{cite news |last1=de Silva |first1=Tommy |title=Rachel House on first-time directing and the power of mounga |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/27-03-2024/rachel-house-on-first-time-directing-and-the-power-of-mounga |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=27 March 2024}}</ref> |
||
⚫ | ''The Mountain''{{'s}} script was co-written by [[Tom Furniss]] and [[Rachel House (actress)|Rachel House]]. The film also marked House's directorial debut.<ref name="Deadline">{{cite web |last1=Ntim |first1=Zac |title='The Mountain:' Production Wraps On Kiwi Family Drama Executive Produced By Taika Waititi |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/the-mountain-taika-waititi-rachel-house-new-zealand-1235366630/ |website=[[Deadline (website)|Deadline]] |access-date=30 April 2024 |date=15 May 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=22 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522152319/https://deadline.com/2023/05/the-mountain-taika-waititi-rachel-house-new-zealand-1235366630/ }}</ref> Furniss' original script centred around three [[Pakeha]]/[[European New Zealander]] boys climbing the mountain. House, who is [[Māori people|Māori]], revised the script to incorporate Māori characters, culture and stories. While Mallory remained Pakeha, Sam and Bronco were revised as Māori, with Sam becoming a girl. House also introduced the idea of having Sam reconnect with her Māori cultural heritage in the story.<ref name="The Spinoff 27 Mar 2024">{{cite news |last1=de Silva |first1=Tommy |title=Rachel House on first-time directing and the power of mounga |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/27-03-2024/rachel-house-on-first-time-directing-and-the-power-of-mounga |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=27 March 2024 |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430145541/https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/27-03-2024/rachel-house-on-first-time-directing-and-the-power-of-mounga |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
⚫ | While Furniss' script did not name the mountain, House chose [[Mount Taranaki]] as the film setting, saying that she "thought it was a wonderful opportunity to try and explain how we feel about our [[maunga]] (mountains)." House explained that mountains were significant to Māori culture, describing them as "ancient living ancestors who have shaped and formed our identity, belonging and connection to each other."<ref name="1 News Premiere">{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Carolyn |title=Premiere screening of The Mountain: 'The Maunga is the star' |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/21/premiere-screening-of-the-mountain-the-maunga-is-the-star/ |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[1 News]] |publisher=[[TVNZ]] |date=21 March 2024}}</ref> Mount Taranaki and the surrounding peaks are considered ancestors by eight local Māori tribes. The mountain and its surrounding peaks were granted legal personhood in 2023 under the name ''Te Kāhui Tupua'' by the [[New Zealand Government]] as redress for their confiscation in [[1866]].<ref name="Deadline" /><ref name="The Spinoff 27 Mar 2024" /> |
||
⚫ | While Furniss' script did not name the mountain, House chose [[Mount Taranaki]] as the film setting, saying that she "thought it was a wonderful opportunity to try and explain how we feel about our [[maunga]] (mountains)." House explained that mountains were significant to Māori culture, describing them as "ancient living ancestors who have shaped and formed our identity, belonging and connection to each other."<ref name="1 News Premiere">{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Carolyn |title=Premiere screening of The Mountain: 'The Maunga is the star' |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/21/premiere-screening-of-the-mountain-the-maunga-is-the-star/ |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[1 News]] |publisher=[[TVNZ]] |date=21 March 2024 |archive-date=19 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419020704/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/21/premiere-screening-of-the-mountain-the-maunga-is-the-star/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Mount Taranaki and the surrounding peaks are considered ancestors by eight local Māori tribes. The mountain and its surrounding peaks were granted legal personhood in 2023 under the name ''Te Kāhui Tupua'' by the [[New Zealand Government]] as redress for their confiscation in [[1866]].<ref name="Deadline" /><ref name="The Spinoff 27 Mar 2024" /> |
||
===Casting=== |
===Casting=== |
||
Line 65: | Line 76: | ||
===Filming=== |
===Filming=== |
||
[[File:Mount Taranaki rising from the plains (6941517076).jpg|thumb|The film was shot on location on [[Mount Taranaki]] in April and May 2023]] |
|||
Filming took place on location at Mount Taranaki with support from the local [[Māori people|Māori]] [[iwi]] (tribe) [[Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika|Taranaki Whānui]].<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024" /><ref name="1 News Premiere" /> The film was produced by [[Piki Films]] and [[Sandy Lane Productions]]. Desray Armstrong and Morgan Waru served as producers while [[Carthew Neal]], [[Taika Waititi]] and Paul Wiegard served as executive producers.<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024" /> Filming lasted four weeks and concluded in mid-May 2023.<ref name="Deadline" /> |
Filming took place on location at Mount Taranaki with support from the local [[Māori people|Māori]] [[iwi]] (tribe) [[Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika|Taranaki Whānui]].<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024" /><ref name="1 News Premiere" /> The film was produced by [[Piki Films]] and [[Sandy Lane Productions]]. Desray Armstrong and Morgan Waru served as producers while [[Carthew Neal]], [[Taika Waititi]] and Paul Wiegard served as executive producers.<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024" /> Filming lasted four weeks and concluded in mid-May 2023.<ref name="Deadline" /> |
||
Line 70: | Line 83: | ||
===Post-production=== |
===Post-production=== |
||
Due to the clear conditions during filming, [[Wētā FX]] digitally inserted clouds into the film footage during post-production.<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024" /> [[Troy Kingi]] and Arli Liberman composed the film's soundtrack.<ref name="NZ On Screen" /><ref name="Stuff premiere" /> |
Due to the clear conditions during filming, [[Wētā FX]] digitally inserted clouds into the film footage during post-production.<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024" /> [[Troy Kingi]] and [[Arli Liberman]] composed the film's soundtrack.<ref name="NZ On Screen" /><ref name="Stuff premiere" /> |
||
==Release== |
==Release== |
||
A full-length trailer of ''The Mountain'' was released on 8 February 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tearjerking new trailer for upcoming Kiwi movie The Mountain |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/508645/tearjerking-new-trailer-for-upcoming-kiwi-movie-the-mountain |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=8 February 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was also promoted by Taranaki's regional development agency Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki and the Taranaki Regional Film Office.<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024" /><ref name="Stuff premiere">{{cite news |last1=Ockhuysen |first1=Stephanie |title=The Mountain brings glitz, glamour and a bit of red carpet to New Plymouth |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/350219129/mountain-brings-glitz-glamour-and-bit-red-carpet-new-plymouth |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[Taranaki Daily News]] |publisher=[[Stuff (company)|Stuff]] |date=21 March 2024}}</ref> |
A full-length trailer of ''The Mountain'' was released on 8 February 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tearjerking new trailer for upcoming Kiwi movie The Mountain |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/508645/tearjerking-new-trailer-for-upcoming-kiwi-movie-the-mountain |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=8 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=19 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419003549/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/508645/tearjerking-new-trailer-for-upcoming-kiwi-movie-the-mountain }}</ref> The film was also promoted by Taranaki's regional development agency Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki and the Taranaki Regional Film Office.<ref name="RNZ 18 Jan 2024" /><ref name="Stuff premiere">{{cite news |last1=Ockhuysen |first1=Stephanie |title=The Mountain brings glitz, glamour and a bit of red carpet to New Plymouth |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/350219129/mountain-brings-glitz-glamour-and-bit-red-carpet-new-plymouth |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[Taranaki Daily News]] |publisher=[[Stuff (company)|Stuff]] |date=21 March 2024 |archive-date=19 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419010636/https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/350219129/mountain-brings-glitz-glamour-and-bit-red-carpet-new-plymouth |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
''The Mountain'' held its international premiere at [[New Plymouth]]'s TSB Showplace on 19 March 2024. 800 people attended the premiere including local iwi [[Ngā Iwi o Taranaki]], [[Ngāti Te Whiti]], and [[Te Atiawa]]. Several cast and crew members including Rachel House, Terence Daniel, Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, Troy Kingi, Sukena Shah and Desray Armstrong also attended the premiere.<ref name="Stuff premiere" /> |
''The Mountain'' held its international premiere at [[New Plymouth]]'s TSB Showplace on 19 March 2024. 800 people attended the premiere including local iwi [[Ngā Iwi o Taranaki]], [[Ngāti Te Whiti]], and [[Te Atiawa]]. Several cast and crew members including Rachel House, Terence Daniel, Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, Troy Kingi, Sukena Shah and Desray Armstrong also attended the premiere.<ref name="Stuff premiere" /> |
||
Line 80: | Line 93: | ||
==Critical reception== |
==Critical reception== |
||
Liam Maguren of [[Flicks (website)|Flicks]] gave a positive review, praising Rachel House for "crafting a distinctly New Zealand film centred on kids that young audiences can latch onto while also telling a story with enough substance to affect anyone of any age." He also praised the performances of Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, Terence Daniel, Sukena Shah, Fern Sutherland, Bryan Coll and Troy Kingi. Maguren was critical of the lack of danger and stakes in a film marketed as an adventure film. He praised Matt Henley's cinematography for capturing the scenic beauty of Mount Taranaki.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maguren |first1=Liam |title=The Mountain is an incredibly rare kind of kids film |url=https://www.flicks.co.nz/reviews/the-mountain-is-an-incredibly-rare-kind-of-kids-film/ |website=[[Flicks (website)|Flicks]] |access-date=30 April 2024 |date=26 March 2024}}</ref> |
Liam Maguren of [[Flicks (website)|Flicks]] gave a positive review, praising Rachel House for "crafting a distinctly New Zealand film centred on kids that young audiences can latch onto while also telling a story with enough substance to affect anyone of any age." He also praised the performances of Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, Terence Daniel, Sukena Shah, Fern Sutherland, Bryan Coll and Troy Kingi. Maguren was critical of the lack of danger and stakes in a film marketed as an adventure film. He praised Matt Henley's cinematography for capturing the scenic beauty of Mount Taranaki.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maguren |first1=Liam |title=The Mountain is an incredibly rare kind of kids film |url=https://www.flicks.co.nz/reviews/the-mountain-is-an-incredibly-rare-kind-of-kids-film/ |website=[[Flicks (website)|Flicks]] |access-date=30 April 2024 |date=26 March 2024 |archive-date=19 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419010644/https://www.flicks.co.nz/reviews/the-mountain-is-an-incredibly-rare-kind-of-kids-film/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
⚫ | Carol J. Paewai of ''[[Hawke's Bay Today]]'' gave a positive review, descibing ''The Mountain'' as "a funny, moving and thought-provoking New Zealand film that showcases up-and-coming actors." She also praised the film for highlighting the relationship between [[Māori people]] and the natural world using a [[coming-of-age story]] format.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paewai |first1=Carol |title=Review: The Mountain - Young Kiwis’ connection to their maunga |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/review-the-mountain-young-kiwis-connection-to-their-maunga/33UL5TQZGZE43OX45EE4F4O74M/ |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[Hawke's Bay Today]] |date=8 April 2024 |archive-date=9 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409122116/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/review-the-mountain-young-kiwis-connection-to-their-maunga/33UL5TQZGZE43OX45EE4F4O74M/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
Milli Banbury of "Kiwi Kids News" gave a positive review, describing the movie as a "cinematic marvel, of a human connection and ancestral reverence." She praised Houser for weaving various themes and topics including humour, [[New Zealand culture]], heartfelt emotions and te ao Māori (Māori worldview). Banbury described each of the three protagonists grappling with personal "mountains" of their own including Sam's cancer, Mallory's grief from losing his mother and Bronco dealing with his busy father. Banbury also praised the movie's cinematography and panoramic photography of Mount Taranaki.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mountain - Film Review |url=https://www.kiwikidsnews.co.nz/the-mountain-film-review/ |website=Kiwi Kids News |access-date=3 May 2024 |date=24 April 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503040924/https://www.kiwikidsnews.co.nz/the-mountain-film-review/ }}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | Carol J. Paewai of ''[[Hawke's Bay Today]]'' gave a positive review, descibing ''The Mountain'' as "a funny, moving and thought-provoking New Zealand film that showcases up-and-coming actors." She also praised the film for highlighting the relationship between [[Māori people]] and the natural world using a [[coming-of-age story]] format.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paewai |first1=Carol |title=Review: The Mountain - Young Kiwis’ connection to their maunga |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/review-the-mountain-young-kiwis-connection-to-their-maunga/33UL5TQZGZE43OX45EE4F4O74M/ |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=[[Hawke's Bay Today]] |date=8 April 2024}}</ref> |
||
==references== |
==references== |
Revision as of 18:45, 20 May 2024
The Mountain | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Directed by | Rachel House[1] |
Screenplay by | |
Produced by | |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Matt Henley[1] |
Edited by | Cushla Dillon[1] |
Music by | Arli Liberman[1] |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Piki Films[2] Madman Entertainment[2] |
Release dates | 19 March 2024 (international)[2] 28 March 2024 (NZ)[2] |
Running time | 89 minutes |
Country | NZ |
Language | English |
Box office | $325,718[3] |
The Mountain is a 2024 New Zealand comedy drama and coming of age film directed by Rachel House, based on a screenplay by House and Tom Furniss. The film is about a young girl named Sam seeking to reconnect with her Māori culture with the help of her friends Mallory and Bronco. The movie stars Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis and Terence Daniel.[4] The film held its world premiere at New Plymouth on 19 March 2024 and was released nationwide on 28 March.[2]
Plot summary
The film focuses on three eleven year-old children in New Plymouth. Sam is mixed-Māori and European New Zealander/Pakeha girl undergoing chemotherapy at a hospital. She and her Pakeha mother Wendy have no contact with her Māori birth father. Mallory is a Pakeha boy whose father Hugh is grieving the loss of his mother. Bronco is a Māori boy who moved with his father Tux to New Plymouth. Tux works long hours as a Police constable.
Seeking to climb Mount Taranaki, Sam escapes the hospital with the connivance of fellow patient Peachy. She enlists the help of Mallory in obtaining supplies and serving as her guide. The two are subsequently joined by Bronco, who helps Sam to reconnect with her Māori culture. The three children take an unofficial route to Mount Taranaki which involves navigating through a golf course, farmland, and a rickety rope bridge. While crossing the bridge, Mallory falls into the river but is saved by Bronco. Bronco later uses his bush skills to build a camp fire and tells his friends about a Māori legend about the origins of Mount Taranaki.
Meanwhile, the adults along with Peachy separately search for the three children, taking an official rout. After Wendy receives a social media image of the children by a campfire, they realise that the three missing children are travelling together. The following morning, Mallory has a falling out with Sam after learning that she lied about her parents being dead. Bronco convinces Mallory to reconcile with Sam. The two help Sam after she injures her leg.
As they approach Mount Taranaki, the adults and Peachy close in on them. Having issues with their parents, the children persevere and create an improvised obstacle using Bronco's bike and their travel packs. Continuing their quest, they encounter a fog. The trio also visit a cave with glowworms. Sam gets weaker due to her cancer condition. After getting lost walking in circles, Mallory and Bronco convince Sam that Mount Taranaki is trying to tell her that she does not need to climb to the summit in her weakened condition. After deciding to return to their parents, the fog mysteriously lifts.
Following their adventure on Mount Taranaki, the three kids and their families become close friends. Mallory and Bronco have ambitions of climbing Mount Taranaki again.
Cast
- Elizabeth Atkinson as Sam[4]
- Reuben Francis as Mallory[4]
- Terence Daniel as Bronco[4]
- Troy Kingi as Tux[4]
- Bryan Coll as Hugh[4]
- Fern Sutherland as Wendy[4]
- Sukena Shah as Peachy[4]
Production
Development and writing
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Rachel_House_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/220px-Rachel_House_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg)
The Mountain's script was co-written by Tom Furniss and Rachel House. The film also marked House's directorial debut.[5] Furniss' original script centred around three Pakeha/European New Zealander boys climbing the mountain. House, who is Māori, revised the script to incorporate Māori characters, culture and stories. While Mallory remained Pakeha, Sam and Bronco were revised as Māori, with Sam becoming a girl. House also introduced the idea of having Sam reconnect with her Māori cultural heritage in the story.[6]
While Furniss' script did not name the mountain, House chose Mount Taranaki as the film setting, saying that she "thought it was a wonderful opportunity to try and explain how we feel about our maunga (mountains)." House explained that mountains were significant to Māori culture, describing them as "ancient living ancestors who have shaped and formed our identity, belonging and connection to each other."[7] Mount Taranaki and the surrounding peaks are considered ancestors by eight local Māori tribes. The mountain and its surrounding peaks were granted legal personhood in 2023 under the name Te Kāhui Tupua by the New Zealand Government as redress for their confiscation in 1866.[5][6]
Casting
The film featured the acting debuts of three child actors: Elizabeth Atkinson (Sam), Reuben Francis (Mallory) and Terence Daniel (Bronco).[7] House made the deliberate decision to cast 11 year old actors, stating during an interview with The Spinoff that it was the age "just before they were about to kind of move into being rangatahi (teenagers) while they still have their ability to believe in magic, for want of a better word." House and several cast and crew members including Francis and Atkinson came from the Taranaki region; with House and Atkinson coming from the Ngāti Mutunga and Te Atiawa tribes.[6]
Supporting cast members included Troy Kingi, Bryan Coll, Sukena Shah and Fern Sutherland.[2][4]
Filming
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Mount_Taranaki_rising_from_the_plains_%286941517076%29.jpg/220px-Mount_Taranaki_rising_from_the_plains_%286941517076%29.jpg)
Filming took place on location at Mount Taranaki with support from the local Māori iwi (tribe) Taranaki Whānui.[2][7] The film was produced by Piki Films and Sandy Lane Productions. Desray Armstrong and Morgan Waru served as producers while Carthew Neal, Taika Waititi and Paul Wiegard served as executive producers.[2] Filming lasted four weeks and concluded in mid-May 2023.[5]
The Mountain received funding from several entities including the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Government's Screen Production Grant, NZ On Air, Whakaata Māori, the Department of Post, Native Audio, Nude Run, Hillfarrance and Kiwibank.[2][5]
Post-production
Due to the clear conditions during filming, Wētā FX digitally inserted clouds into the film footage during post-production.[2] Troy Kingi and Arli Liberman composed the film's soundtrack.[1][8]
Release
A full-length trailer of The Mountain was released on 8 February 2024.[9] The film was also promoted by Taranaki's regional development agency Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki and the Taranaki Regional Film Office.[2][8]
The Mountain held its international premiere at New Plymouth's TSB Showplace on 19 March 2024. 800 people attended the premiere including local iwi Ngā Iwi o Taranaki, Ngāti Te Whiti, and Te Atiawa. Several cast and crew members including Rachel House, Terence Daniel, Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, Troy Kingi, Sukena Shah and Desray Armstrong also attended the premiere.[8]
It was subsequently released in the rest of New Zealand on 28 March. Piki Films and Madman Entertainment handled the film's distribution in New Zealand and abroad respectively.[2]
Critical reception
Liam Maguren of Flicks gave a positive review, praising Rachel House for "crafting a distinctly New Zealand film centred on kids that young audiences can latch onto while also telling a story with enough substance to affect anyone of any age." He also praised the performances of Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, Terence Daniel, Sukena Shah, Fern Sutherland, Bryan Coll and Troy Kingi. Maguren was critical of the lack of danger and stakes in a film marketed as an adventure film. He praised Matt Henley's cinematography for capturing the scenic beauty of Mount Taranaki.[10]
Carol J. Paewai of Hawke's Bay Today gave a positive review, descibing The Mountain as "a funny, moving and thought-provoking New Zealand film that showcases up-and-coming actors." She also praised the film for highlighting the relationship between Māori people and the natural world using a coming-of-age story format.[11]
Milli Banbury of "Kiwi Kids News" gave a positive review, describing the movie as a "cinematic marvel, of a human connection and ancestral reverence." She praised Houser for weaving various themes and topics including humour, New Zealand culture, heartfelt emotions and te ao Māori (Māori worldview). Banbury described each of the three protagonists grappling with personal "mountains" of their own including Sam's cancer, Mallory's grief from losing his mother and Bronco dealing with his busy father. Banbury also praised the movie's cinematography and panoramic photography of Mount Taranaki.[12]
references
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "The Mountain". NZ On Screen. New Zealand On Air. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "World premiere of The Mountain to be held in Taranaki". RNZ. 18 January 2024. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Box Office Mojo: The Mountain - Weekend Ranking". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Mountain". New Zealand Film Commission. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ntim, Zac (15 May 2023). "'The Mountain:' Production Wraps On Kiwi Family Drama Executive Produced By Taika Waititi". Deadline. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b c de Silva, Tommy (27 March 2024). "Rachel House on first-time directing and the power of mounga". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Robinson, Carolyn (21 March 2024). "Premiere screening of The Mountain: 'The Maunga is the star'". 1 News. TVNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Ockhuysen, Stephanie (21 March 2024). "The Mountain brings glitz, glamour and a bit of red carpet to New Plymouth". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Tearjerking new trailer for upcoming Kiwi movie The Mountain". Radio New Zealand. 8 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Maguren, Liam (26 March 2024). "The Mountain is an incredibly rare kind of kids film". Flicks. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Paewai, Carol (8 April 2024). "Review: The Mountain - Young Kiwis' connection to their maunga". Hawke's Bay Today. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "The Mountain - Film Review". Kiwi Kids News. 24 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.