The director of the acclaimed and controversial Once Were Warriors returns with what looks like a banger of a historical drama.
How to watch The Convert in New Zealand
The Convert is currently screening in New Zealand cinemas.
The Convert
What is The Convert about?
Set in 1830s Aotearoa during the Musket Wars, the film sees Guy Pearce as missionary Thomas Munro, who finds himself packed off to a remote British settlement that’s about to become embroiled in a war between two Māori communities. And, following a failed hostage negotiation and a brutal massacre, that’s exactly what happens. Tamahori co-wrote the screenplay with Shane Danielsen, working from a story by Michael Bennett, who in turn adapted (fairly loosely, from what we can tell with a quick glance) the acclaimed 2011 novel Wulf by Hamish Clayton.
With its religious themes, criticism of colonialism, and meditations on the morality of violence, we’re reminded of Roland Joffé’s excellent The Mission. You should check that one out.
The cast of The Convert
In addition to Guy Pearce we’re getting Lawrence Makoare as tribal leader Akatarewa; Antonio Te Maioha as his rival, Maianui; Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne as his daughter, Rangimai; plus Jacqueline McKenzie, Dean O’Gorman, Madeleine McCarthy, Te Kohe Tuhaka, and Duane Wichman-Evans Jr. filling out the ensemble.
The Convert trailer
Why we’re excited about The Convert
It’s been a long time since we had a film from Lee Tamahori. Which is a shame, but this latest offering seems to be a perfect match for his visceral style, and we’re keen to see the results. Plus, we’re suckers for films set in colonial New Zealand, like Vincent Ward’s River Queen and Geoff Murphy’s Utu, and The Convert certainly looks like a sterling example of that particular historical subgenre. Plus: the last time Guy Pearce did an anti-colonial historical drama we got The Proposition, so his past form speaks for itself. And besides, our critic Liam Maguren liked it.
