We Were Dangerous

A well made kiwi film doing what well made kiwi films do, tell a story well.

The cast are excellent with Rima Te Wiata a standout as matron, and a step away from her role in 'The hunt for the wilder people'.

The story is a simple one, without intrigue, car chases or CGI of more modern tales. Without giving the plot away it portrays the late 50's attitudes to the coming storm of the sixties well. Young women unprepared for a more modern life but plunging into anyway, and gaining the sigma of being a 'delinquent'. An older generation struggling to come to terms with this and clutching at the values of church, wedded bliss, government and stern teaching like a drowning man would clutch at a straw.

This film won't shatter you, nor test your sensibilities but if will give you a view through the window to a time it's hard to believe was just over half a century ago. How we've progressed?

To engage an audience while exploring the evils of the past is not an easy task, but this film does a nice job. This reviewer, over many reviews, has suggested that the era we live in now is much much darker than most of us can perceive. Historians of the future looking back at the present will use a sharper lens and see things we of the present missed. Faced with such a challenge, WE WERE DANGEROUS chooses to entertain rather than educate. The ensemble cast works a treat and holds the attention. No gratuitously morbid scenes. Just a hint here and there. At one point Matron notes that, just a few years back (from the 50s), the girls might have been lobotomized. Point taken. Well done. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

The movie is sensible, mature and powerful. The friendship between the girls is maybe one of the best part of the movie. All the actress are amazing on this, especially Erana James with some of the most strong scenes (although the chemistry between the three of them is what is most beautiful about it). The final scene is my favourite one with a incredible soundtrack. The director did such a great job and choices for this movie. About the story, it's sad, funny sometimes, touching and very realistic. The hope of a escape for the girls is what made me more excited for, knowing that the strength of the movie consist in how the girls found hope on each other.

Theres something so magical about films made in New Zealand, about New Zealand and set in New Zealand. We were dangerous is a treasure of Aotearoa and I adored every second. The cast really pulled it together. Erana James is spectacular as always, Rima Te Wiata really shined as The Matron and embodied the horror of those institutions. I couldn't believe that this was Manaia Halls first acting job, she was such a joy to watch. We Were Dangerous was such a wonder to watch, it stuck the landing every second. A huge congratulations to Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu for her first feature film being one as incredible as this.

I love supporting local cinema and this movie hit it out of the park!, Great casting (and to find out later that some of the main cast have "Never" acted before is astonishing! A true credit to the casting director) being a stickler for period authenticity I was pleased that every detail of the1950's was on display. The true heart of this story is the hard nature of some of the content regarding the treatment of "delenquent" girls of that time period and the honest and genuine nature of the charectors (yes even "Matron", (what a marvelous actress Rima is!) If you want to watch a movie for its story and not so much the "CGI" "Special Effects" then this lovely slice of cinema is for you.....Enjoy!