|
|
|
|
|
So much of history is built on violence and war—much of which has been glossed over through the years. But in The Convert, director Lee Tamahori explores the British colonization of New Zealand—and the violence that played out as the colonists moved into the land, bringing their weapons with them.
The Convert travels to Epworth, a small British settlement in New Zealand, in 1830 with Thomas Munro (Guy Pearce), a lay preacher who finds himself arriving just as tensions between British colonists and the nearby Maori tribes are growing. After he witnesses a battle between two tribes and saves the daughter of a Maori chief (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne), he ends up caught in the middle of rivalries and prejudices—and as a war between tribes seems inevitable, Munro opens up about his own violent past while imploring the tribes to make peace.
As Munro settles in Epworth, he quickly learns that his new home isn’t just a tropical paradise. Just minutes after he steps off the merchant ship, he witnesses a bloody battle between native tribes and begs the warring chief to show mercy to the other tribe’s people. But it’s not just the natives who are fighting against one another. The British colonists want nothing to do with the natives who have rented out their land—and when Munro brings a wounded native woman to the settlement, no one is willing to help her.
The story that plays out here isn’t always easy to follow. It explores the challenges brought about by colonization as well as native traditions and battles between the different tribes—and unless you’re familiar with the culture, it can be rather confusing. While you might not be able to follow everything in this action-packed drama, though, the story still comes through. It’s a story of war and vengeance and sometimes mercy, too. And though some may be suspicious of Pearce’s role as “white savior,” his character isn’t there to save anyone but himself—and, in the process, he ends up helping the Maori tribes free themselves from the chaos and hostility that arrived with the colonists.
The Convert is a captivating and eye-opening film, giving viewers a glimpse of a time and place in history that they most likely know little about. It’s beautifully filmed with careful attention paid to the native tribes and their culture—and that alone makes it worth checking out.
You can travel with Munro to Epworth when The Convert arrives in theaters on July 12, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
|
|
|
|
