The director of a new film set in 1950s New Zealand says having a great cast lifted it to a new level.
We Were Dangerous opened the New Zealand International Film Festival.
It follows a trio of young women in a state care school raging against the limitations being put on them.
Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, who describes herself as an actors’ director, says there’s particularly strong performances from the trio of Erana James, Manaia Hall and Nathalie Morris, and from veteran Rima Te Wiata who plays the school’s matron.
“She’s a rangatira – she brings so much depth to the character. She turned a character that could have been a bit two dimensional or silly and she fleshed it out and has made this incredu=ibkly funny but quite tragic, sad person. It’s phenomenal to watch. I would watch it just for her perfoemance,” she says.
While the film has dark places it doesn’t rehash the traumas played out in the real life Abuse in State Care Inquiry instead tries to celebrate the resilience, humour and power of young wahine Maori.
