The World’s Fastest Indian features Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro, a New Zealander who has spent years modifying an old Indian motorcycle in his garage. His goal is simple: get the bike to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and see how fast it can go.

That is basically the whole movie.

Burt is not wealthy, polished, or especially concerned with what other people think. He is obsessive, stubborn, mechanically gifted, and completely convinced that the trip is worth making even when almost everything about it seems impractical.

The movie follows Burt as he travels to the United States, meets a string of strangers, solves problems as they come up, and slowly makes his way toward Bonneville. Much of the pleasure is simply watching him interact with people.

There is very little cynicism in the movie.

That is part of its charm.

The stakes are personal rather than world-changing. Burt is not trying to become famous. He wants to find out what he and his motorcycle are capable of before he runs out of time.

By the time he finally reaches the salt flats, you are completely invested.