The Convert

While this film tells of a seemingly unimportant bit of history from a global political perspective, it is infact a very interesting tale which is omitted from commonly known pop history.

The scenes are dramatic and don't pause, one picture almost seems better than the last. Every shot tells a story of culture and narrative, and every line of the script only adds more meaning to human nature.

In a lot of ways the seemingly small skirmish which is depicted in this film, can be far more dramatic than the large scale battles of the massive nation States who dominate the Globe. Each member of the warring tribes are not only friends but also lovers, family members and close nit family legacies.

As a history enthusiast, I also very much appreciated a more realistic portrayal of...history which is often, or almost always ignored by mega budget Hollywood fairy tales disguised as history. Yes there were some goofy flaws with weapons, but the flaws told a larger narrative and gave more color to viewers who might not be history buffs.

In the end this movie is at heart a play and not a documentary, but it's a story true to it's spirit.

Enjoy!

It's 1830 New Zealand. Guns have changed the local Maori culture and soon Christianity. Thomas Munro (Guy Pearce) is the newly arrived Reverand from England to preach over the tiny community of Epworth. On the way there, he encounters a tribal conflict and rescues Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne) from execution. She turns out to be the daughter of a rival clan leader. Charlotte (Jacqueline McKenzie) is an Epworth villager with connection to the Maori.

This is essentially the story of Dances with Wolves in another place with more religion. There is a lot to like. It also feels very familiar. It is nice to see this culture and this particular time/place being represented. It's not the most covered. This may not be the most inventive, but it's nice just to see it.

Greetings again from the darkness. Ten years ago, no one would have thought twice about a preacher traveling to a remote island with the given mission of converting souls - both indigenous and British - to Christianity. But much has changed in those 10 years, and writer-director Lee Tamahori (hit and miss with NEXT, 2007; DIE ANOTHER DAY, 2002; ALONG CAME A SPIDER, 2001; THE EDGE, 1997) and co-writers Michael Bennett and Shane Danielson take head-on on the "white savior" backlash that's surely coming their way (not from me).

It's 1830 and Thomas Munro (Guy Pearce) is catching a ride across the rough waves of the Tasman Sea. His beautiful white steed doesn't much care for the boat's ups and downs, and both man and beast are happy to go for a run on the sandy shore once they reach their destination. And that's pretty much the end of the good times. Munro has been hired by the colonists to be their preacher and bring Christianity to the locals ... tribes of Maori. Munro stumbles into the brutal inter-tribe battles and he quickly negotiates to save the life of Rangimai (a stunning Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne), the daughter of the other tribe's chief.

Early on, we also learn that Munro is no ordinary preacher. He has a past that haunts him - and skills that come in handy in this new environment. Mostly though, he does a great deal of talking - regularly negotiating one thing or another with one side or another. His sketch book offers proof that he's a good man with good intentions, and one who seeks the good in others. What he also learns is that muskets are often more powerful than Christian words.

Munro's mission is aided by Charlotte (a terrific Jacqueline McKenzie) who acts as a translator, while carrying her own personal history of tragedy. Racism is of course on full display, despite Munro's efforts to negotiate peace between the tribes and the always-hovering British colonists. Throughout the film, there are some sloppily staged fight scenes, yet the cinematography from Gin Loane is exceptional. We do get the crescendo of a final showdown, as well as a somewhat surprising ending on display in a "Four years later" epilogue. Director Tamahori hits us very early with a smaller bird being attacked midair by a larger bird, with the survival of the fittest on display - whether here in New Zealand, or most any other place throughout history.

Opening July 12, 2024.

A very simple straight forward watch about the start of the invasion of west into new Zealand. I love watching Maori films , but unfortunately majority of them are terrible and unwatchable. Due to all new Zealand TV being pretty cheesy and terrible. When I was there , quality is like watching stuff from the 80's.... Anyway the film has fantastic locations and captures the maori's well . Brutal culture , very tough people. They were way more aggressive than native Indians in usa. Their general rule of thumb is they will cook you until your eyes pop out , then feast on you. This film kept me to the end and I enjoyed the acting and story. It reminded me of the last samurai with Tom cruises character, very similar to the main protagonist in this movie. It has hints of the old traditional movie ' The bounty ' as well. It's a little slow to begin with , but has some fun exciting scenes towards the end.

The Convert (2023), based on a story by New Zealand writer Hamish Clayton, is a film that's been a long time coming. Directed by Lee Tamahori, a seasoned veteran of both drama and action genres, it's a film that's been quietly simmering on the back burner since its sales rights were acquired at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

I'd done some reading about it a couple of years ago, and it seems the film spent those two years languishing in some production company drawer. The reason, I suspect, is the current state of movie-going audiences. Let's face it, most people (with a few exceptions) aren't flocking to theaters for two-hour (or longer) historical dramas. The box office numbers back this up. And I guess the production company didn't want to relegate this film to a straight-to-streaming/home video release either. They have a point.

Guy Pearce, one of the most talented actors working today, but one who's been plagued by a less-than-stellar career trajectory, takes the lead role. And boy, does he deliver. He's absolutely mesmerizing, bringing a Shakespearean intensity to every scene as if he were performing on the National Theatre stage. It's clear he's deeply invested in the story, perhaps due to its historical relevance to his own background.

Gin Loane, whose work I haven't seen before, delivers stunning cinematography that captures the rugged beauty of the New Zealand landscape. Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne gives it her all, and it wouldn't surprise me if she snags an award for her performance in this film. (I haven't checked, but it wouldn't be undeserved.)

The Convert is a film that deserves recognition for its acting, well-choreographed fight scenes, seamless integration of the Maori language, and authentic portrayal of 1830s New Zealand society. It's a film that transports you to another time and place, immersing you in a world of conflict, faith, and redemption.