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The Convert
2024 119 min Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom 18+
★6.9
Drama, Action
Director: Lee Tamahori
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Munro, a soldier turned lay preacher, comes to New Zealand to minister to the first British colonists, but he is converted by the powerful chief Maianui to serve a different purpose.
US Gross:
$5,491
Worldwide:
$692,018
Starring
Guy Pearce
Actor
Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne
Actor
Antonio Te Maioha
Actor
Awards
5 wins & 7 nominations total
Key opinion
The Convert is a visually rich and well-acted historical drama that succeeds as a compelling exploration of colonial New Zealand. While critics appreciate the film's commitment to cultural detail and strong performances, some note that its narrative choices regarding historical nuance and pacing create a mixed experience.
| Acting | Guy Pearce delivers a standout, commanding performance as a conflicted British priest. | |
| Production | The production design authentically captures early New Zealand, utilizing detailed ethnographic elements like period-specific artifacts and language. | |
| Pacing | The action sequences are entertaining and effectively staged, though they occasionally lean toward implausibility. | |
| Screenplay | The script draws criticism for oversimplifying the complex dynamics of colonial integration, potentially reducing historical reality to one-sided moralizing. | |
| Theme | The film's focus on meticulous ethnographic detail is perceived by some as immersive, while others find the scholarly, museum-like approach to be slow and bordering on boring. |