Robyn Malcolm, William McInnes, Josh McKenzie

The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell

Everyone is a little extraordinary.

From the producer of Once Were Warriors and Rain

William McInnes (Look Both Ways, Sea Change) is the can-do barbecue dad of the title in Brendan Donovan’s affectionate comedy-drama. He plays a Howick cleaning contractor, whose hopes and dreams include success in local body politics. But his real passion is kart-racing and he’s grooming his teenage sons, 17-year-old Marc and 14-year-old Ed (real-life brothers Josh and William McKenzie), as future motorsport heroes. He’s borrowed so much money to make it all happen that it stretches the love of his wife Gail (Robyn Malcolm of Outrageous Fortune fame) to breaking point. When the boys collide on the track, Gazza’s world is turned upside down, causing a crisis that tears at them all — forcing him to fight to keep his dreams afloat, and his family together.

Funny, emotional, and authentic, with shades of both The Castle and Smash Palace, Gazza Snell is a surprisingly powerful father’s coming of age — about letting go and finding something much stronger to hold on to.

Director Donovan (The Insiders Guide to Happiness, The Insiders Guide to Love, Aftershock) shows us his old suburb in all its widescreen glory, while also taking the temperature of its changed ethnic mix.

Produced by Robin Scholes (Once Were Warriors, Rain).

“In a Festival replete with generation gaps, one of the most emotionally loaded has a Kiwi accent.”
— Bill Gosden, Director of the NZ Film Festival

Drive a kart at 150km/h
See the boys sing “See Me Go”
Alfa Romeo Kiss
The director talks about the film
The world of karting
Robyn Malcolm talks about the film
A glimpse at Brendan Donovan’s other work

Gazza Snell in the Press

EYEWORKS FILM in association with the NEW ZEALAND FILM COMMISSION and NZONAIR presents

“THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF GAZZA SNELL”

WILLIAM MCINNES ROBYN MALCOLM JOEL TOBECK SARAH PEIRSE JOSH MCKENZIE MELISSA XIAO
Production Design PHIL IVEY Costume Design KIRSTY CAMERON Casting Director RACHEL BULLOCK
Director of Photography TRISTAN MILANI A.C.S Editor CHRIS PLUMMER Composer MARIO GRIGOROV
Written By BRENDAN DONOVAN and DAVID BRECHIN-SMITH
Executive Producers JULIE CHRISTIE and SIMON MILLAR
Produced By ROBIN SCHOLES Directed By BRENDAN DONOVAN

NZFC, NZONAIR, EYEWORKS FILM, PARK ROAD POST, DOLBY

See the whole cast and crew at IMDb

Gazza Snell

Played by William McInnes (Look Both Ways, Seachange).

Your ordinary, charming, infuriating, obsessive, pakeha, dad. A man who loves his motorsport, his two boys, Howick, and his wife. Possibly in that order… Ah, but the winds of change are blowing for Gazza. He can’t be Peter Pan forever. Something big is about to happen, something that will dramatically shift him… and perhaps, at 45, Gazza will finally come of age.

Gail Snell

Played by Robin Malcolm (Outrageous Fortune)

She married this fun, outgoing, slightly irresponsible guy – but never counted on him still being that way in his Forties. Solid, sure, and even, Gail is getting exasperated by Gazza’s antics, and she’s worried for their children – who seem in thrall of Gazza’s motorsport obsession. When her worst nightmare is realised – an accident on the track – Gail is forced to closely examine her marriage, and her feelings for an old friend…

Marc Snell

Played by Josh McKenzie (brand new to the silver screen!)

He’s the NZ national karting champion, he’s the son of the kart club president, he has an international scout coming to check him out in his next race, AND he’s hopelessly good looking. Then the bottom falls out of his world; he collides with his brother on the track. Possibly his fault. And the guilt is almost overwhelming. His only escape is Jee (Melissa Xiao), a new Chinese immigrant, and a spunky breath of fresh air. Will Marc make it? Will he come out stronger than before?

Ed Snell

Played by William McKenzie (yep, they’re real brothers!)

When you’re 14 life is pretty simple: girl’s breasts, winding your dad up, goofing off, and driving a kart at 200km/h. Ed has the motorsport bug too, and he’s snapping at his older brother’s heels. But a giant event is about to explode into his life – an event that will tear his family apart, then bring them all together again, tighter than ever before.

More about Gazza More about Gail More about Marc More about Ed