Taika Waititi on Next Goal Wins and why he changed his mind about making a sports film

New Zealand’s Taika Waititi is prolific if nothing else. As an actor, he’s played roles from an endearing vampire in What We Do in the Shadows, to Adolf Hitler in his film Jojo Rabbit. His latest film, Next Goal Wins, tells the story of the American Samoa national soccer team and its attempt to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Tom Power talks to Waititi about what drew him to this “underdog” story, why he finds humour in the mundane, and why he thinks New Zealand humour translates across the world.

00:00 - Introduction & TIFF story
03:02 - Next Goal Wins
09:05 - Jaiyah's story
13:23 - Taika's filmmaking style
17:35 - Comedy of the mundane
20:38 - Reservation Dogs & the power of making an Indigenous character boring
23:50 - Conclusion

[cmgb]

I love when he talks like this about his work. Serious and not skiting. Well done Tom on bringing that out.

[SammiRichmond]

This was a great interview, thank you! I really love the natural conversation style you guys have.

[mobrien]

Yes! Cool Runnings was such a good vibes, fun movie. Neat to hear him say that was an inspiration. Can't wait to see Next Goal Wins. Lots of good folks in it too. I'll always watch anything Taika is involved in.

[silverdoe]

Great interview, Taika is so amazing to listen to when he’s engaged with the interviewer.

[cadciel]

Great interview, thanks! Looking forward to watching the movie.

[CatFish]

I love Taika's attitude and the fact that such a large audience is privy to it.

[teriingiwaaka]

hilarious masterpiece😊grew up with Oscar's older siblings, I can still hear his mother Mary, yelling at Rodney or Lesley 😂fact check, their home was the feature of Outrageous fortune..kiwi drama with soul..nice one Taika Kia ora to your darling Rita 😊

[oneworldfamily]

What a lovely chat between two lovely people. Thanks for this. Proud to be human.
Subscribed!

[alexisgrey]

I love how down to earth and natural he is, he talks like a real person in contrast to all these celebs who speak in cliches and almost act like its rehearsed or theyre in a fantasy world rather than real life, Chloe Sevigny is the same, on the bones and all panel with her, Timothee Chalamet, Taylor Russell and the director dude, the last three were all talking in a rather cringy cliche way and sucking up to each other and it sounded planned and rehearsed, but Chloe was just being her down to earth snarky sarcastic self and she seemed more natural.

[kimibrowne]

I enjoyed this movie and good interview!

[voulafisentzidis]

As a fellow kiwi I agree with Taika about American films. I don't mind sentimentality so long as it's not contrived.

[eviehanlon]

Have to watch it again to catch Kelly's hair and eyelashes that seems to have offended so many people....

[realityreconsidered]

Is the Q operation being examined? The White Hats, military tribunals etc.?

[socialjunkiedotcom]

Sirens are annoying, no doubt. Don't bust on the volume of the sirens. I'd rather people and drivers know 6 blocks away a truck is coming down the road so everyone can plan to get the f out of the way.