Directed by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu and written by Maddie Dai, Nellie, Daisy and Lou attend an institution for delinquent girls on an isolated island in 1954. The trio rail against the system, finding strength in their friendship but this is challenged when the school’s matron divides them. Starring: Erana James, Nathalie Morris, Manaia Hall, Rima Te Wiata, Aaron Jackson, Molly Jarvis-Taylor, Tōmairangi Paterson-Waaka and Kylana Peauafi Symonds.
Within history there have been countless atrocities committed against indigenous people across the globe, and a lot of people probably don’t think about how far into modern day that history stretches, and continues on today. Creating work like We Were Dangerous reminds people of the horrible acts taken against The Māori and many other communities, not that long ago. It’s absolutely necessary but can be done in a number of different ways, Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu and Maddie Dai chose to use the familiar cinema of New Zealand to explore the issue in an accessible, relatable and entertaining fashion.
The word entertaining sounds strange in that context but We Were Dangerous has a very classic Kiwi sense of humour and sarcasm and it works really well in this story. It drives home how these are young women, who simply don’t fit the mould society wants them to and for that, they’re treated as second-class citizens. There’s a lot of casual cruelty at work here, the potency of how little the ruling body thinks that they deserve autonomy over their own minds and bodies, is frustrating to an intense degree. Yet, the filmmakers manage to communicate all that horrendous behaviour with a touch of comedy and a big heart.
Part of what helps to make it so impactful is that natural setting, the contrast of the beauty of it with the hardship and isolation works really well. It also does a lot to keeping that sense of hope, despite their harsh reality, they never truly give up. As well as having the colour and fresh feel of it nicely reflect their youthfulness rather than the negativity. The atmosphere blends itself between the touching nature of their friendships and their harrowing situation. It does a brilliant job of disarming you with its charm, only to land a heavy blow of racism and bigotry.
Another big part of that is the excellent ensemble put together for We Were Dangerous. You can never go wrong with Rima Te Wiata but this is a far cry from her bubblier roles, she’s unforgiving and odious as The Matron. It simply goes to show how great of an actress she is that she’s as convincing as a simple, good, sweet woman, as she is as a dictator. Even more so that Te Wiata communicates a few flickers of doubt in her character which adds layers to her. Then you’ve got the leading trio of young actresses, played by Erana James, Nathalie Morris and Manaia Hall who are all superb.
The energy and refusal to submit from their characters is really the heart of the film. They never give in to the idea they that shouldn’t be able to do whatever they want with their lives but still are keenly aware of the prejudices they face. James, Morris and Hall all portray very different women but they’re all on the same wavelength, connecting in such a strong way. They’re an absolutely charming trio, as is the rest of the young inhabitants of this island of punishment. As well as caretaker Barry (Stephen Tamarapa) who provides the only kind adult in We Were Dangerous, and he holds a lovely presence.
We Were Dangerous is endearing and touching but also packs a punch. To think of the barbaric acts these young women faced makes your heart genuinely ache for so many Native people whose childhoods were brutally taken away from them. Not to mention the traumatic impact that likely had on the rest of their lives, if they managed to survive. Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu does a sincerely wonderful job of translating the poignancy and harshness of this moment in history into a relatable and charming story of the resilience of young women. The casting was particularly well done to put together an exceptional group of women, and a few men too, the performances are all captivating and compelling. The level of spite is immense and yet to the filmmakers’ credit, the heart and courage of the film is never overwhelmed by it.
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