The World's Fastest Indian

 Although the title may initially evoke the image of a Native American athlete capable of breaking world records, it in fact refers to a motorcycle. This 2005 New Zealand–United States co‑production, directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Anthony Hopkins, is a road‑movie dramatization of the life of Burt Munro, who set the land‑speed record for motorcycles under 1000cc. While the narrative is based on historical events, the film incorporates substantial dramatization and therefore cannot be classified as strictly nonfiction.

At 63 years of age, Munro lives alone in rural New Zealand, continually modifying his 1920 Indian Scout. His long‑standing ambition is to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. After experiencing an episode of angina and receiving an unfavorable prognosis, he interprets the situation as a final opportunity and resolves to travel to the United States. Upon arriving in Los Angeles with his crated motorcycle, he encounters significant difficulties navigating unfamiliar environments. Nevertheless, supported by the goodwill of individuals he meets along the way, he transports his machine toward Bonneville using a dilapidated vehicle. Although initially denied entry for missing the registration deadline, his persistence ultimately persuades the organizers to grant him permission to compete.

The juxtaposition of Munro’s modest Indian motorcycle with the modern, streamlined racing machines on the salt flats produces a visually compelling sequence best appreciated through direct viewing. Even audiences without a particular interest in motorcycling are likely to find the scene engaging. The Indian Motorcycle Company, founded in 1901 in Springfield, Massachusetts, continues to manufacture motorcycles today.

The film is also notable for its depiction of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition seldom represented in cinema. During his journey, Munro receives assistance from a Native American man after his trailer breaks down. While sharing camp, Munro discloses urinary difficulties attributable to BPH. The man claims to possess a traditional remedy derived from a dog’s testicles and provides Munro with a small pouch. Near Bonneville, when Munro becomes unable to void, he ingests the contents and temporarily alleviates his symptoms. The dialogue explicitly uses the expression dog’s ball, rather than referring to Veronica persica. In Japanese, Veronica persica is known as Ohinunofuguri, literally “big dog’s ball,” which may contribute to confusion.

Contemporary BPH treatments frequently employ botanical agents, including Eviprostat®, hachimi‑jio‑gan, saw palmetto, African plum, pumpkin seed extract, and plant sterols. No scientific evidence supports the use of canine testicular tissue for BPH in modern medicine. Although organotherapy—therapeutic use of animal organs—has historical precedent, its scientific foundation remains weak. Bear bile is a well‑known example that continues to circulate in folk medicine.

Native American ethnobotany includes herbs such as echinacea, yarrow, goldenrod, and willow bark, the latter containing salicylic acid with recognized analgesic properties. However, no documentation indicates the use of dog testicles for prostate‑related conditions. Folk remedies often lack systematic records, complicating verification. Veronica persica has been used in European folk medicine for diuresis, weakness, dermatologic conditions, and indigestion, but it is absent from traditional Chinese Materia Medica, which predates the plant’s introduction to Japan.

While canine testicles are difficult to obtain in Japan, the situation differs in the United States, where routine neutering of companion animals is common. Recent concerns regarding long‑term health risks have prompted the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) to revise its 2024 guidelines, stating that unconditional spay‑and‑neuter practices may not always be optimal. Although vasectomy is technically feasible in dogs, it is not widely adopted due to the small diameter of the vas deferens and the risk of recanalization.

Finally, the film holds particular significance for Anthony Hopkins’s career. Although he received the Academy Award for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), subsequent performances in The Remains of the Day (1993) and Hearts in Atlantis (2001) remained overshadowed by the enduring association with Hannibal Lecter. The World’s Fastest Indian contributed meaningfully to reframing his public image by demonstrating his capacity for warm, humanistic characterization and highlighting the breadth of his acting range.

 (This article was originally written in Japanese and translated into English using Co-Pilot.  So, please, note that certain nuances may differ from the original source.)