There’s a certain charm that so many films from New Zealand have, and the award-winning We Were Dangerous from SXSW is no different. The film is a period dramedy following a trio of friends, young women sent to an institution for delinquent girls on an isolated island in 1954. They’re under the watch of a strict, religious matron, who herself is a victim of the period’s racism and misogyny. The story is a mix of sharp humor, social commentary, and moving drama, all in a balance that works beautifully.
The film was directed by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, who won the special Jury Award for Filmmaking at this year’s SXSW. It was written by Maddie Dai.
