The Mountain

Nestled beneath the watchful gaze of Mount Taranaki, a trio of unlikely friends embarks on a journey of self-discovery in Rachel House's heartwarming coming-of-age tale, The Mountain. Sam (a delightful Elizabeth Atkinson), a young girl grappling with her Maori heritage, finds solace in the company of the adventurous Maori boy, Bronco (an earnest Terrence Daniel), and the more cautious Mallory (Reuben Francis). Their escape into the wilderness becomes a quest for belonging, connection, and a deeper understanding of their place in the world.

House, a seasoned actress making her directorial debut, weaves a narrative that's rich in cultural context. The film beautifully portrays the deep respect Maori hold for their ancestral land, personifying Taranaki itself as a watchful guardian. This reverence for nature adds a layer of depth, making the mountain more than just a backdrop-it becomes a character in its own right. Thematically, The Mountain explores familiar territory: navigating family issues, forging friendships, and confronting personal fears. But the film's execution feels genuine, thanks in large part to the believable performances by its young cast. Atkinson shoulders the film admirably, capturing Sam's vulnerability and determination with a charming innocence. Daniel brings a spark of energy as the enthusiastic Bronco, while Francis provides a grounded counterpoint as the thoughtful Mallory. While the adult characters are somewhat underwritten, they provide a steady presence and emotional support for the central trio.

Visually, The Mountain stuns. Cinematographer Matt Henley captures the breathtaking beauty of New Zealand's landscapes, with sweeping vistas that inspire awe. The use of natural light and a muted colour palette further emphasises the film's connection to nature. The score, a blend of traditional Maori instruments and contemporary sounds, seamlessly complements the visuals, creating a sense of both serenity and adventure. The editing is clean and avoids unnecessary flourishes, allowing the story and characters to take centre stage. Pacing-wise, the film occasionally feels a tad slow, particularly in the first act. However, the investment in character development pays off, making the emotional payoffs in the later sections all the more rewarding.

The Mountain has a couple of shortcomings. The plot, while heartfelt, lacks the narrative complexity found in coming-of-age classics like Stand By Me. There are also moments of dialogue that feel a bit too on-the-nose, delivering emotional messages a tad too bluntly.

Despite these minor stumbles, The Mountain is a film that ultimately won me over with its sincerity and genuine charm. The message of embracing your heritage, finding strength in friendship, and respecting nature resonated deeply. This is a film best enjoyed with an open heart and a sense of wonder, perfect for a family movie night or a solo escape into the beauty of the natural world. With its stunning visuals, endearing performances, and heartfelt story, The Mountain may not reach the cinematic peak, but it's a climb that's well worth taking.

This is a very borderline review for me. On one hand, I appreciate a lot of what the filmmakers were trying to achieve with the obviously microscopic budget they had. The script is often able to hit its mark, showcases some beautiful nature vistas and effectively shows us how a child would engage with a number of topics, including truly weighty ones.

On the other hand, this is also the film where the path of its main protagonist appears to have ultimately served to resolve the problems of other people she barely knew before then. While it appears that the filmmakers were justifiably vary of endorsing "faith healing", I'm not truly aboard with the approach they have taken instead. And as this kind of conclusion comes into focus, the script also settles for convenience over simple logic in a handful of frustrating scenes. (Walking in circles in the fog while one of them has a massive compass THEY DO NOT THINK OF USING is a particular lowlight. So is an earlier scene in the fog with bikes, which is just narmy.)

Lastly, I wish the film went for a bit more bite - for instance, examining what exactly would have driven Sam to place her faith so TOTALLY in Mount Taranaki alone, in spite of not truly belonging to that culture, and overlooking the more typical avenues (i.e. Christianity) As it is, it's a too-soft film about what is still a deeply tragic topic.

The main characters are kids but it's not just a "kids' film", it's for everyone as they take us along their journey.

Three kids on an adventure together, each for their own reasons, with worried parents in hot pursuit. I know we've seen that kind of plot a million times but this one really is different and I'm so glad I caught it at the Sydney Film Festival.

A bit of a tear-jerker but not overly so, it's a solid plot with plenty of Kiwi humour and unlike some other films it's not too predictable.

Some great performances from the young cast, I expect we'll see their faces again in more films or at least I hope we do.

The scenery is just beautiful with stunning views of Taranaki and the Kiwi bush.

The young cast delivers standout performances, particularly Elizabeth Atkinson as Sam, whose determination and vulnerability are both endearing and inspiring. Terrence Daniel's portrayal of Bronco is charismatic, and Reuben Francis as Mallory brings a touching sensitivity to his role. The chemistry between the three leads is palpable, making their friendship believable and heartwarming.

The film's soundtrack, composed by Troy Kingi and Aril Liberman, adds another layer of emotional depth, perfectly complementing the narrative and the breathtaking visuals. The integration of Maori (the Maori worldview) is seamlessly woven into the story, enriching the film's cultural tapestry and offering a unique perspective that is both educational and moving.

I loved this film, suspected that I would - the kiwi humour, light touch, relatively slow and realistic pacing, great casting, unique characters, gorgeous landscapes, Maori cultural and environmental messages. I am not sure what foreigners would make of it but to me, as a New Zealander it gives me the warm fuzzies.

It's sweet and charming, and yes I may have cried. Climbing Mt Taranaki has been added to my to-do list. Fingers crossed I will remember to pronounce it properly!

My 11 year old rated it "medium" but she's used to OTT style animated films and videos, lots of noise, colour, and speed. We need more films like this for families - that feel modern yet genuine, meaningful and gentle.