The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell

A tale of infuriating fathers and very fast go-karts, The Hopes and Dreams of Gazza Snell marks Robyn Malcolm’s first leading role on film. Malcolm plays Gail, long-suffering wife to the charming, ambitious Gazza Snell. Obsessed with go-karting, Gazza has banked heavily on the hope his sons’ racing talents will result in motorsport glory. But Gail is unconvinced. Australian talent William McInnes (Unfinished Sky, SeaChange) plays Gazza; the script is by Insiders Guide to Happiness award-winners David Brechin-Smith and Brendan Donovan (who also directs).

I was really aware that there’s aspects of Gazza in a lot of Kiwi males. Not just the obsessiveness, but the Peter Pan man-child part, the blinkeredness, the assumption that his wife or partner will dig everything he does.

– Director Brendan Donovan, in the December 2010/January 2011 issue of Onfilm

Key Cast & Crew

Brendan Donovan

Director, Writer

Robin Scholes

Producer

David Brechin-Smith

Writer

William McInnes

As: Gazza Snell

Josh McKenzie

As: Mark

Melissa Xiao

As: Jee