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 – New Zealand.
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 (LAWRENCE MAKOARE). Munro manages to save the life of Rangimai (TIOREORE NGATAI-MELBOURNE) – the daughter of Maianui (ANTONIO TE MAIOHA), a rival chief whose land the people of Epworth lease in a delicate arrangement.
The Playlist – “The Convert ultimately represents a tremendous feat of reclamation, a Māori story told by a Māori director in the Māori language with a large Māori cast. Even while telling indigenous stories, such across-the-board representation of indigenous people is still rare in Hollywood. New Zealand did succumb to becoming a colony of the British Empire after the events shown in the film, but the film nevertheless paints a stirring picture of a proud, sovereign culture with all its complexities intact.” (Full Review Here)
Variety – “The stunning vistas, handsomely photographed by Gin Loane, signal the underlying theme of the narrative: Survival belongs to the strongest, a precept that grows in significance as the plot progresses.” (Full Review Here)
