THE CONVERT
Australia - New Zealand - UK / 2023 / 119 min / DCP / History
Director : Lee Tamahori
Script : Shane Danielsen, Lee Tamahori adapted from Hamish Clayton's novel
Cinematography : Gin Loane
Editing : Luke Haigh
Music : Matteo Zingales
Production : Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Robin Scholes, Te Kohe Tuhaka
Cast : Guy Pearce (Thomas Munro), Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne (Rangimai), Antonio Te Maioha (Maianui), Jacqueline McKenzie (Charlotte), Lawrence Makoare (Akatarewa)
Dinard Festival 2024
New Zealand in the 1830s is a Māori world, dominated by tribal wars. Seeking redemption from a dark past, lay preacher Thomas Munro is on board a trading vessel heading to the newly established town of Epworth, a British settlement. When the ship anchors for repairs, Munro finds himself caught up in a battle between Māori tribes and witnesses the slaughter of innocents at the hands of chief Akatārawa. Munro manages to save the life of Rangimai, the daughter of Maianui, a rival chief whose land the people of Epworth lease in a delicate arrangement.
Lee Tamahori
Of Ngāti Porou descent, Lee Tamahori was born in 1950. He had directed a number of shorter dramas for television before he made his feature film debut in 1994 with "Once Were Warriors". He left New Zealand to explore many exciting opportunities, mainly in Hollywood, after the huge critical and commercial success of this first feature. His feature film credits over this period include: Mulholland Falls (1996), The Edge (1997), Along Came a Spider (2001), Die Another Day (2002), xXx: State of the Union (2005), Next (2007), The Devil’s Double (2011). Internationally acclaimed feature film director, he has returned to New Zealand after 20 years working overseas to direct in New Zealand Mahana (2016) and in 2023 The Convert.