Chasing Great

Nominated for three Moa Awards, this documentary follows All Black Richie McCaw on his 2015 quest to become the first skipper to defend the World Cup. Directors Justin Pemberton (The Golden Hour) and Michelle Walshe were given major access to create a portrait of McCaw — who admits to craving the pressure — and chronicle the psychology of achievement in sport. McCaw got involved as a chance to "inspire some young kids", arguably ending his policy of keeping "the private stuff private". The film's first day in cinemas set a record for a local documentary; it became Aotearoa's highest grossing big screen doco. 

You get into habits of working hard. You get into habits of setting your sights pretty high — because that's what I've done for so long. Now part of me really craves that pressure. But another part of me realises it'd be nice one day not to have that.

– Richie McCaw

Key Cast & Crew

Justin Pemberton

Co-Director, Writer

Paul Maxwell

Editor

Sean Donnelly (SJD)

Composer

Cass Avery

Producer

Michelle Walshe

Co-Director, Writer

Chris Burt

Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Design