Lee Tamahori, the director behind action-packed flicks like “The Edge” and “Die Another Day,” takes a surprising turn with his latest historical drama, “The Convert.” While Guy Pearce delivers a strong performance, the film stumbles in the second act. The lull in action, a trademark of Tamahori’s past work, feels oddly placed here. Thankfully, the movie recovers in the final stretch, culminating in a brutal but satisfying battle between Maori tribes. Yet, one question lingers: how exactly does Guy Pearce’s character, Thomas Munro, fit into this bloody conflict? Let’s delve deeper and find out.
Spoilers Ahead
The Convert (2023) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
“The Convert” opens with Thomas Munro traveling on a ship. He is asked to be a lay preacher in a recently developed town, Epworth, in the lands of the tribal community. The two tribal communities that own the whole island are at war with each other. One of their chiefs, Maianui, is for peace, while the other chief, Akatarewa, wants to fight to lead his men to glory. Epworth finds Akatarewa’s men attacking a man and a woman when he tries to stop them.
Akatarewa says that in exchange for their lives, Munro must offer something in return. Munro agrees to give his horse. But Akatarewa says one life will be spared in exchange for one horse. One of his men cuts the throat of the man, leaving the woman alive. Munro comes to Epworth with a woman named Rangimai, daughter of the chief Maianui, and the man who died was her husband. Munro takes care of Rangimai; he gets some outside help from Charlotte, who used to be part of Maianui’s tribe.
Why Was Pahirua Killed?
Since the first time the English people see Rangimai with Munro, they do not like the fact that a tribal woman is going to stay with them. Even when Munro seeks help from the local doctor to take care of Rangimai’s wounds, he humbly rejects his plea. All thanks to Charlotte, who came forward and took care of Rangimai, or else she would have died because of the injury. Munro learns from the locals that this Epworth is located on Maianui’s lands, and they pay him the rent for it. They have their own ideas for expanding their business. Soon, they buy the whole place to build a new town here.
Maianui arrives to meet with his daughter. He learns from Charlotte that Munro is the person who takes the necessary steps to make sure Akatarewa doesn’t harm Rangimai. Maianui is grateful to Munro as he wants Rangimai to stay with him and learn the ways of well-mannered people, including their language. He orders one of his tribal members, Pahirua, to be there with Rangimai so that she faces no trouble. One of the local girls soon has a crush on Pahirua, which is not taken lightly by her father. One night, when everyone is busy dancing and drinking, including Munro and Rangimai, the father of the girl, sends two men to kill Pahira.
What does Maianui learn about Munro?
Munro soon realizes who caused such a disastrous event. Then, he goes to confront the bunch of men. However, they manage to put the blame onto a local who is a god-fearing common man. Munro knows that this is staged as this man who they say is the culprit can never kill a man, neither can he kill himself. Anyway, Munro decides to go along with Rangimai to deliver Pahirua’s body, while Charlotte tags along as a translator to help his cause. The locals of the Epworth request Munro to bargain with Maianui. But he refuses to participate in their idea behind this deal.
When Munro arrives and meets with Maianui, the chief of the clan asks Munro who he should kill to avenge Pahirua’s death. Munro has the opportunity to point out the culprit. Instead, he suggests to Maianui that without taking the path of violence, he can simply raise their rent of the land. In this way, the people of Epworth will face a grave problem, while Maianui can easily benefit from it. Munro stays there for a while, and Elder Maianui notices him closely. Munro goes on to draw whatever he sees, including Rangimai, Elder Maianui, and others around the tribe. Meanwhile, he starts admiring Charlotte more for her inspiring journey and her empathy toward everyone.
However, when Elder Maianui sees Munro’s drawing book without letting him know about it, he sees some of the most disturbing sketches, which raise their concern about Munro’s true intention. He discusses this with the chief Maianui, and they confront Munro by showing the sketches. Munro then confesses that he used to be in the British Army, and because of the orders, he, unfortunately, had killed a lot of innocent people, including women and children.
Is Munro Able to Convince Akatarewa Not to Raise a War?
Munro repented his actions and now avoids violence while trying to spread the message of peace as much as possible. Hearing this, Maianui, along with others, expressed their pity toward Munro. The following day, Munro sees that Maianui is buying guns from the English sailors, and he tries to stop them. He says that he will convince Akatarewa not to raise an army to go to war against them as he is concerned that if any one of them starts the war, this will only end up killing a lot of their own people. Eventually, it will also destroy the hope for a better future. Maianui agrees with this proposition as he says that if Munro manages to convince Akatarewa, he will make sure that no war takes place on the island, at least from his side.
Munro goes to meet with Akatarewa along with the English sailors, and seeing him after a long time surprises Akatarewa a bit. While they are on the ship to meet with Akatarewa, Munro discovers Rangimai has sneaked inside the ship to make sure nothing happens to Munro. Anyway, seeing Munro after a long time, Akatarewa at first thinks that he has come back for the horse. But when he hears his peace proposition, Akatarewa mocks him. He even rejects Maianu’s peace offerings saying that under his watch, peace will only come through war. When Munro is asked to beg for his life, he denies that, and Akatarewa dismisses the meeting.
The Convert (2023) Movie Ending Explained:
The Aftermath of the Meeting and Preparations for War
After the meeting, Akatarewa comes out to meet the English sailors and asks them about the price of the guns they have brought. Soon after, Akatarewa and his men kill all the sailors, get hold of the ship, and start sailing for Maianu’s clan. Meanwhile, Rangimai shoots one of Akatarewa’s men, the same man who killed her husband, and rescues Munro from him. Later, they head back to Maianu and warn everyone about the upcoming attack. Maianu’s clan prepares themselves for the war, and when Akatarewa’s men arrive, a huge fight breaks out.
Since Charlotte and Munro have decided to fight alongside them, the elder Maianu performs a small ritual to welcome them into their clan. However, Charlotte dies from a bullet while Munro continues to resist Akatarewa’s men. When Akatarewa’s son is injured, he leaves the village and heads back to the beach where they came from. Akatarewa knows that the battle is lost as he submits to Maianu, saying that he does not regret his decision because a chief’s duty is to go to war rather than live in peace.
Will Peace Prevail? The Resolution and a New Threat Emerge
Maianu kills him with the knife Akatarewa hands him over, the same knife that Maianu had sent earlier as a peace offering. Later, to finish the longstanding brawl, Maianu makes Akatarewa’s son, Uenuku, marry his daughter, Rangimai. Four years later, when the British army meets with Uenuku, Rangimai, and Munro to propose to own their lands under the King’s command, Rangimai protests. She says that the land belongs to them, and it will never change. If the government wants to do business with them, they need to come up with a better solution rather than just giving some vague warning.
The representatives of the British Regiment are left in awe by the daring nature of the tribal clan. Seeing Munro as an important member of the clan astonishes them even more. It is now confirmed that the two clans will work hand-in-hand to protect the island from outsiders regardless of the cost. Munro praises Uenuku for how he has handled the situation by supporting his wife, Rangimai’s decision. The clan has been successful in supporting Epworth and making it look profitable to the British Empire. It is now up to Uenuku, Rangimai, and Munro to make sure their land is protected from trespassers.
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