In 1954, Nellie (Erana James) and Daisy (Manaia Hall) are students at an organisation for teenage female delinquents. The organisation is passionate about teaching everything about religion and preparing the students for their future in motherhood and parenting. Their teacher, the Matron (Rima Te Wiata), runs her classes with firm and strict authority, never tolerating nonsense or silliness among the girls.
Given the students’ ongoing behavioural issues, including a recent pregnancy, management has decided to relocate the entire group, along with the Matron, to an isolated island. They will live on the island, and the students will be required to sleep in old cabins, which they will also renovate. The Matron reluctantly accepts the task and continues to educate the students. Upon moving to the island, students Nellie and Daisy share a cabin with the newest student, Lou (Nathalie Morris). Their first task is cleaning, painting, and repairing the old cabin while attending various class sessions. Soon, the trio suspects some unusual activity on the island that significantly impacts the students. They must work together to uncover the truth while dealing with the matron, who seems to be working against them consistently.
We Were Dangerous is a drama film with a minor mystery. The film concludes with various revelations from the storyline, and various themes are explored throughout, such as friendship, trust, and determination. It was directed and co-written by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, whose only other directional credits are from a short film titled Ani (2019).
Rima Te Wiata delivers a solid and memorable performance as The Matron. Her character is highly unlikeable due to her attitude and harshness towards her students, but the actress brings her to life wonderfully. The young performances are also quite good, and the portrayal of the girl’s friendships is sometimes convincing and touching. Visually, the film looks great, and I loved the island setting where the film took place for most of the duration.
Pacing-wise, I was on board for the vast majority, but sadly, some moments seemed slow or slightly dragged on. However, I still found myself invested and eager to know what was occurring on the island, if our leads would discover the truth, and, if they did, how they would respond. I also often worried if the leads would get caught or if they would get into deep trouble for the secret plotting and personal investigations on the island. While the film revealed everything by the end, and the conclusion is rewarding, I did find some of the film’s reveals unnecessary and out of place, and I wondered if the story would have worked better by showing us actions as they took place.
Overall, We Were Dangerous is a compelling drama with solid performances, especially from actress Rima Te Wiata, who wonderfully portrays her cruel and harsh character. The story kept me invested in knowing how everything would end, and I had concerns about the fates of the film’s three leads. The island setting is visually stunning. However, the pacing had slower moments, and as the film concluded, the concept of reveals felt slightly unnecessary and unfitting in terms of continuity and style. Nonetheless, it’s still an enjoyable film with plenty of redeeming qualities.
We Were Dangerous (2023) is now available via digital in Australia!
7.5/10
21st October 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
THANK YOU FOR VISITING!
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