The Mountain

AroView: In her directing debut, actress Rachel House doesn’t mess with the winning Piki Films formula of feelgood, funky and proudly multi-cultural for this family-friendly adventure comedy.

Mt. Taranaki stands proud in the title role and connection to the whenua is a strong theme that she elegantly weaves into its tale of defiant aspiration for a child cancer sufferer, impressively played by Elizabeth Atkinson. But like her feisty character, it refuses to feel sorry for itself, and her 11-year-old co-stars Terence Daniel and Reuben Francis keep it real and relatable to any Kiwi kid.

Featuring a slapping soundtrack by Troy Kingi (who also co-stars), the film even enchanted visionary film director Michel Gondry, who cited it among his Top 20 family films of all time.

“A heartfelt and charming adventure that taps into the innocence and wonder of childhood while also tackling deeper themes such as mortality and cultural legacy.” ~Louisa Moore, Screen Zealots

“Throughout her impressive filmography, [Rachel] House has learned much from her collaborators and makes an endearing debut with this gem.” ~Abe Friedtanzer, The Film Experience