The Convert (2024) free download

The Convert (2023) is a historical drama film directed by Lee Tamahori, set in 1830s New Zealand during the early stages of British colonization. The film centers on Thomas Munro (Guy Pearce), a lay preacher who arrives in New Zealand hoping to minister to the British settlers in the town of Epworth. However, he finds himself caught in the middle of a bloody conflict between two rival Māori chiefs, Maianui (Antonio Te Maioha) and Akatarewa (Lawrence Makoare), who are fighting for control of the region

Munro forms an unlikely alliance with a Māori woman named Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne), whose husband was killed in the conflict. The film explores themes of faith, violence, and the clash of cultures as the British colonists and Māori tribes struggle to coexist

The Convert features strong performances, particularly from Guy Pearce as the conflicted Munro and Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne as the resilient Rangimai. Director Lee Tamahori brings his experience in action films to the intense battle scenes while also paying careful attention to the historical accuracy of Māori culture and customs

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023 and was released in New Zealand cinemas in March 2024. It has received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its visual style, moral complexity, and the way it sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of New Zealand's history