Review: The Convert

The Convert is that rare thing, a New Zealand costume drama, this time set during the notorious Musket Wars of the early 1800s. Directed by Lee Tamahori (Once Were Warriors), it stars Guy Pearce (L A Confidential) and Lawrence Makoare (Fellowship of the Ring).It's to the credit of Lee Tamahori's The Convert that it sets out to tell a story we're mostly unfamiliar with - the notorious Musket Wars of the early 1800s.We're reminded it was when the English imported two things - Christianity and guns. The Christian minister of the title is Thomas Munro, played by Guy Pearce. A former soldier, he's swapped his uniform for the cloth in slightly mysterious circumstances and has arrived at the tiny settlement of Epworth.Along the way, he finds himself between two war-parties, one led by the terrifying chieftain Akatarewa - Lawrence Makoare. Akatarewa slaughters the other party - all but Rangimai, the wounded daughter of the other chief. Munro manages to save her and put her under his protection.It seems inter-tribal warfare has always been a way of life. But with the addition of lethal firearms, the stakes are far higher. In pre-colonial terms, they really are weapons of mass destruction.Munro takes Rangimai to a local woman, Charlotte, who's spent a lot of time in both English and Māori society. Her background is somewhat mysterious too. Was there a child, and if so where is she?One background story in The Convert is the fact that English sailors are making a fortune selling muskets to the local iwi. All sides, they're not fussy. But how risky is it dealing with someone as unpredictable as Akatarewa - clearly modeled on the real-life "Napoleon of the South", Te Rauparaha?The other is the unanswered slaughter of Rangimai's war-party. She wants utu, but Akatarewa's army is bigger and better armed than anything her father can muster.In other words, it's a bit like High Noon, except Rangimai is Gary Cooper - a woman's gotta do, and so on - and the peace-loving Reverend Munro is Grace Kelly.But of course, Pearce is the star, and frankly, we all want a face-off between him and Makoare, the film's Darth Vader, to mix genres.On the plus side, it looks great - particularly the scenes in the bush, and it has to be admitted, some gritty, violent battle scenes. Cinematographer Ginny Loane is The Convert's secret weapon, as she's been on so many New Zealand films. On the minus side, for all the film's good intentions, it's let down by a less than gripping storyline…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details