A coming-of-age hit out of New Zealand, writer/director Rachel House’s “The Mountain” brings a young girl’s journey to understand her Māori culture to U.S. theaters beginning next week.
Hope Runs High distributes the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival premiere, which House co-wrote with Tom Furniss. The mountain of the film’s title is a 2,518-meter dormant stratovolcano located on New Zealand’s North Island, and known as Taranaki Maunga. It’s there that a young girl reconnects with her Māori cultural roots in this heartfelt family film that earned solid reviews out of TIFF. Watch the trailer below.
More on the film from the official synopsis courtesy of the distributor: “Sam, a fearless young girl raised outside of her Māori culture, is determined to fulfill 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.”
A long-celebrated New Zealand actor, House has starred in “Our Flag Means Death,” “Heartbreak High,” “Foundation,” “Time Bandits,” “Moana 2,” and “A Minecraft Movie.” As an acting coach, she has worked alongside Jane Campion for the series “Top of the Lake” and the film “The Power of the Dog.” She’s also worked with Taika Waititi (who executive-produces “The Mountain”) on “Boy,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” “Jojo Rabbit,” and “Next Goal Wins.”
“When I started this project, I knew I wanted audiences everywhere to see some of the wisdom and magic that exists within Te Taiao, the natural world. And, to fall in love with our adventurous kids who discover that friendship can see you through just about anything,” House said in a director’s statement.
The film’s cast includes Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, Terence Daniel, Fern Sutherland, Troy Kingi, Sukena Shah, and Byron Coll.
“The Mountain” is produced by Desray Armstrong for Sandy Lane Productions and Morgan Waru for Piki Films, with Carthew Neal, Waititi, and Paul Wiegard serving as executive producers. The film was shot on location around Taranaki, with support from Taranaki whānui (tribes), including trainee positions for Taranaki uri (descendants).
“The Mountain” opens from Hope Runs High in theaters starting Friday, April 24.
