Hitch Hike

This short film follows a teenage hitchhiker (Aaron McGregor) in search of his birth mother. The apprehension of the journey is heightened when he gets picked up by a mean-looking Māori (Calvin Tuteao) with a swastika tattooed on his face. The boy's great expectations wind up being realised in different ways than he might have imagined. The dramatic debut from actor-director Matthew Saville, Hitch Hike thumbed a ride to international festivals, from Tampere to Durban; the “emotionally engaging” film was selected for website Short of the Week in August 2014.

Hitch Hike was inspired by three separate events: my experiences of hitchhiking through New Zealand, the story of an adopted friend, and a chance meeting in a bar with a character very similar to Maka. After a few beers, I asked him why he had a Swastika tattooed on his face. His answer struck me as being quite profound and in fact is included verbatim in the final scene of the film.

– Director Matt Saville

Key Cast & Crew

Calvin Tuteao

As: Maka

Aaron McGregor

As: Aaron

Matthew J Saville

Writer, Director

Julia Parnell

Producer

Bruce Saville

As: Farmer's Voice

Aidee Walker

As: Heather