‘There’s a Hole in My Bucket’ A Raucous and Tender Exploration of Loss

Royd Tolkien’s Directorial Debut Screens This Week at Newport Beach Film Festival.

There’s a Hole in My Bucket makes its international premiere as the centerpiece of the Newport Beach Film Festival’s inaugural New Zealand Spotlight Section. Directed by Royd Tolkien, great-grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, alongside co-directors Drew Cullingham and Robert Cavanah, the documentary elevates a deeply personal story of loss into a sweeping, unforgettable experience. It is a heart-stealing, raucous, tender, and deeply arresting essay on human resilience, sibling bonds, grief, and unadulterated adventure.

Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, the film draws extra emotional weight from an extraordinary roster of Middle-earth royalty, including Sir Peter Jackson, Billy Boyd, John Rhys-Davies, and Sir Richard Taylor, who step forward to support the journey.

“His grief he will not forget but it will not darken his heart it will teach him wisdom.”

— J.R.R. Tolkien

Siblings Bonded in Imagination and Contrast

Growing up on a Welsh farm hosted by parents who threw annual summer gatherings for The Lord of the Rings superfans, Royd Tolkien and his younger brother Mike shared a childhood steeped in epic imagination. Yet as adults, their temperaments diverged: Mike was the thrill-seeking daredevil, while Royd was cautious and mild-mannered.

When Motor Neurone Disease (MND/ALS) struck Mike, Royd became his primary caregiver until Mike passed away in 2015. But Mike wasn’t about to leave quietly. Knowing his brother’s safe nature all too well, Mike left behind one last act of love, mischief, and sibling revenge: a sealed list of 50 secret challenges Royd was forbidden to refuse. Delivered one by one to force Royd into truly living, Task #1 set the tone immediately: Royd had to intentionally trip on his way to deliver Mike’s eulogy.

An Unpredictable Ride

Going into the film cold, with only a basic grasp of the premise, I was completely unprepared for the emotional impact that followed. Experiencing Royd’s journey in full, lived-in-the-moment exuberance is precisely what gives the documentary its rare magic, and why Mike’s mischievous list is best discovered as it unfolds on screen.

Following his deliberate funeral stumble, Royd is thrust into a whirlwind across New Zealand (Aotearoa). What follows is an unscripted, high-wire act of sibling affection and sheer absurdly hilarious torment. Mike’s list operates on a relentless curve of psychological and physical escalation, forcing Royd far out of his comfort zone through extreme physical stunts, humiliating public daredevilry, and radical emotional vulnerability. Part of the film’s power is watching Royd, completely unprepared and perpetually terrified, surrender to the sheer chaos his brother left behind.

Finding Wisdom in Grief

As the frantic energy of the 50 tasks yields to deeper self-discovery, the documentary shifts toward its quiet culmination: Task #50 at Machu Picchu. Where early challenges forced Royd to confront public embarrassment, the final leg elevates the story beyond mere thrill-seeking into a profound exploration of grief, resilience, and personal rebirth. By refusing to let loss paralyze him, Royd discovers that Mike’s mischievous list was never meant to torture him, it was an instruction manual for living fully.

Rarely does a documentary balance gut-wrenching grief with such infectious, unbridled joy. There’s a Hole in My Bucket stands as a triumphant reminder that joy is still worth chasing after loss. It deserves serious consideration come awards season, earning every bit of an Oscar nod for Best Documentary Feature. As Royd passes on his brother’s ultimate wisdom: 

“Don’t have a bucket list… do it now. Be dareful out there.”

Join in the Fight for a Cure

In conjunction with the festival, the production is hosting a special charity auction featuring a copy of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien signed by Middle-earth icons, benefiting the ALS Network and ALS United Orange County.

Screening & Ticket Information

Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30 PM

Thursday, October 22 at 8:30 PM

Location: Triangle 5 in Costa Mesa, CA

Tickets: Get Newport Beach Film Festival Tickets