Film Shapes

The year is 1830. A ship is on its way to New Zealand, the captain charged with delivering lay preacher, Thomas Munro (Guy Pearce) to Epworth, a British settlement on the fringes of M āori territory. Making landfall down the coast  to pick up some lumber, Munro comes across some trouble between two tribes. Long story short, he becomes the ward of a young woman, and off they sail to Epworth. Upon arrival, the snooty townsfolk don't take too kindly to Munro's 'inclusive' forbearance, but they have external issues to concern them as well. They are renting their land from the local tribal chief, Maianui (Antonio Te Maioha), whose daughter is the woman in Munro's care, Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne). As well as this, a hard-case chief, Akatarewa (Lawrence Makoare) - seen earlier meting out some rough justice to Rangimai's fella - has designs on Maianui's land. Tinderbox potential. Director (and co-writer) Lee Tamahori has a really eclectic showreel, from hi...