Chasing Great
Richie McCaw, All Black captain, has achieved his dreams with incredible precision and determined determination. At 34, he is perhaps the greatest rugby player of all time. The dream may be over. Everyone is wondering when Richie McCaw will retire. He’s old according to professional sports standards. Richie McCaw is determined to make a run at the Rugby World Cup. It has never been won twice in succession. It has never been won twice by a captain. Either he will end his career with a high-flying finish or he’ll take down a nation’s hopes and dreams. Richie McCaw’s final season is followed by Chasing Great as he tries to lead the All Blacks to their first-ever back-to-back World Cup wins. Richie McCaw has been a great success story, but very little about him is known. Richie McCaw has never been contacted by the media, and he remains very private. Chasing Great allows the viewer to enter his world. It is an intimate look into the life of a high-level international athlete and provides a psychological portrait of the champion’s mind. He can only go so far with hard work, dedication and natural strength. He must master his mind to become the greatest. McCaw’s mental toughness, self-knowledge and perseverance over his playing career have made him a formidable player and perhaps one of the best. The camera followed McCaw throughout the 2015 Rugby season, and the Rugby World Cup in the UK. Finally, he can reflect upon what he’s accomplished and try to share his perspective on how it was like being the man who saw his talents on the field as an inspiration and found that his dreams could become a nation’s goals. Michelle Walshe (documentary filmmaker) and Justin Pemberton, Justin Pemberton were able to follow Richie McCaw as he departed the New Zealand All Blacks. The story is told through family videos and interviews from those closest to him. –Cass Avery
Genre: Documentary
Director: Justin Pemberton, Michelle Walshe
Actors: Richie McCaw
Country: New Zealand
