The Mountain

The Mountain

9–12
dir. Rachel House
New Zealand 2024 / 89’
Polish voice-over, English subtitles

Sam escapes from the hospital to fulfill his big dream of conquering the majestic Mount Taranaki. His new, oddball friends – Mallory and Bronco – join him on this crazy mission. Will the tenacious trio manage to reach the summit?

Each of them has a different motive for climbing Taranaki, a volcanic mountain known from many New Zealand legends. Sam is undergoing treatment and believes in the healing power of the mountain. Mallory recently lost his mother, and climbing to the summit is his family's unfulfilled dream. Bronco, a Māori, has always wanted to conquer the mountain, revered by his ancestors. The young hikers choose a more difficult route so that their parents won't find out about their plans. This unusual trek, apart from memory of endless challenges, will bring them lasting friendship and… an unforgettable adventure!

Did you know that…
…one of the film’s executive producers is Taika Waititi, director of "Jojo Rabbit" and "What We Do in the Shadows"? The filmmaker also comes from New Zealand and is keen to support Māori culture.

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warning

The film deals with the subject of cancer.

Awards

2024
SCHLiNGEL International Film Festival for Children and Young Audiences
CIFEJ Jury Award for Best International Feature Film

Creators

Director
Rachel House
Screenplay
Rachel House, Tom Furniss
Cinematography
Matt Henley
Editing
Cushla Dillon, Carly Turner
Music
Troy Kingi, Arli Liberman
Main cast
Elizabeth Atkinson, Reuben Francis, Terence Daniel, Troy Kingi, Byron Coll, Fern Sutherland, Sukena Shah
Producers
Desray Armstrong, Morgan Waru
Production
Piki Films, Sandy Lane Productions
Polish distributor
Stowarzyszenie Nowe Horyzonty
Sales
Upgrade Productions
Original language
English, Maori