Mar 17, 30, April 6, 7, 20: Movie – THE CONVERT
A Fight for Peace. A Heart at War.
An action-packed work of historical fiction that premiered at TIFF 2023 by Director Lee Tamahori. New Zealand release March 14 2024.
With Raglan actor Antonio Te Maioha (Spartacus, Zoolander 2) and starring Guy Pearce (Animal Kingdom)
The Post, Graeme Tuckett 3.5/5 “As Munro, Maiainui and Akatārawa, Guy Pearce, Antonio Te Maioha (Spartacus: Blood and Sand) and Lawrence Makoare (The Dead Lands) are uniformly terrific, with Te Maioha and Makoare sketching in some history between the warring chiefs that perhaps only existed in the script in the white spaces between the written dialogue.
Tioreore Ngātai-Melbourne (Cousins) has been a highlight of every film she has appeared in and she carries on the good work here as Maiainui’s daughter Rangimai. Aussie veteran Jacqueline McKenzie is reliably superb as Charlotte.”
The Playlist “A Stunning, Sweeping, Action-Packed Epic.”
A lay preacher arrives at a British settlement in the 1830s. His violent past is soon drawn into question and his faith put to the test, as he finds himself caught in the middle of a bloody war between Maori tribes. Based on the book Wulf by Hamish Clayton.
Next Best Picture “THE CONVERT is ultimately a solid historical action and drama flick that will do its job just fine. What it lacks in story or effectiveness, it more or less makes up in some grounded performances and mesmerizing imagery of 19th-century New Zealand. “
THE CONVERT– R13 Bloody violence & cruelty 119mins | Languages English, Maori | New Zealand, Australia, UK
Sunday 17th March 4.30pm, Saturday 30th March 7.30pm, Saturday 6th April 7.30pm, Sunday 7th April 7.30pm, Saturday 20th April 7.30pm
Ticket prices: $16 Adults, $14 Concession and $9 Children. RCAC Members $12.
Raglan Movies at the Old School, 5 Stewart St, Raglan 3225.
Book online: raglanmovies.nz, call into the Old School office Mon-Fri 10am to 2pm. (Office closed public holidays)
Door sales from 30 mins before session times.
Licensed bar & homemade snacks on sale.
New Zealand in the 1830s is a largely Māori world, dominated by tribal wars. Seeking redemption from a dark past, lay preacher Thomas Munro (GUY PEARCE) is on board a trading vessel heading to the newly established town of Epworth, a British settlement at the far corner of the world. When the ship anchors on the rugged coast of New Zealand, Munro finds himself caught up in a battle between Māori tribes and witnesses a slaughter of innocents at the hands of chief Akatarawa. Munro manages to save the life of Rangimai — the daughter of Maianui, a rival chief whose land Epworth leases in a delicate arrangement.
As Munro begins to experience the white townsfolk’s entrenched racism and paranoia towards the Māori, he finds himself increasingly ostracized within the community he is meant to serve and realizes he has been brought to this isolated British outpost merely to add the veneer of civilization. When one of Maianui’s men is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Munro and Rangimai take a dangerous journey into the prohibited lands ruled by Māori warlords, in the hope of repairing the injustice. However, Munro soon realizes he is a pawn in a strategic play of power, and with bloody war between the two dominant tribes now inevitable, he must decide what role he will play and whether his faith is real, or of any value.
PRODUCERS: Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Robin Scholes, Te Kohe Tuhaka
DIRECTOR: Lee Tamahori
WRITERS: Lee Tamahori, Michael Bennett,Shane Danielsen
ACTORS: Guy Pearce, Dean O’Gorman, Jacqueline McKenzie, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Antonio Te Maioha
THE CONVERT- R13 Bloody violence & cruelty 119mins | Languages English, Maori | New Zealand, Australia, UK