Rachel House, the acclaimed New Zealand actor known for her work in “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” and “Moana,” is stepping behind the camera for the first time with “The Mountain.”
The film follows Sam, a fearless young girl raised outside her Māori culture, who sets out to climb Mt. Taranaki in hopes the mountain can heal her from cancer. Along the way, she teams up with Mallory, a new kid desperate for friends, and Bronco, who claims to be running away from his too-busy dad. As the trio tackles the mountain’s difficult terrain, they discover what real adventure and friendship look like.
House co-wrote and co-produced the 90-minute feature, which is executive produced by Taika Waititi, her frequent collaborator. The two have worked together on multiple projects, with House serving as acting coach on “Jojo Rabbit,” “Boy,” and “Next Goal Wins.”
Early reviews are calling the film “delightful, magical, mystical… brimming with humor and tenderness,” according to InSession Film. AWFJ.org praised it as capturing “the spirit of backyard adventures writ large,” while The Film Experience noted it’s “perfectly family-friendly… it has heart and a delightful larger-than-life nature.”
The film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival before landing U.S. distribution with Hope Runs High, the New York indie distributor behind recent releases like “Chronicles of a Wandering Saint” and restored classics from director Lee Grant.
House brings serious credentials to her directorial debut. She studied at Prague Film School, where she won Best Director and the Audience Award for her short films. She’s also directed a Te Reo Māori version of “Troilus and Cressida” at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, and worked as acting coach alongside Jane Campion on “The Power of the Dog” and “Top of the Lake.”
“The Mountain” opens in theaters April 17.
