One of the first films we caught at this year’s SXSW was We Were Dangerous, a film directed by Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu. Starring Erana James, Manaia Hall, Nathalie Morris and Rima Te Wiata, the film follows a group of “delinquent” girls on their path to rebellion and escape from the toxic world of misogyny, colonization, and weaponized religion.

As the film begins, we’re introduced to best friends Nellie (Erana James) and Daisy (Manaia Hall) as they try to escape a school for delinquent girls. While some girls are able to escape, Nellie and Daisy are caught by the school’s Matron (Rima Te Wiata). As the film progresses, we learn more about what brought the girls to the school; Nellie left her home to try and earn money to support her family and while waiting at a train station, she meets Daisy, with the two girls getting caught stealing. Desperate to conform the girls, the Matron devises a plan to move the school to a remote island. There, Nellie and Daisy quickly bond with a girl described as a “sexual deviant,” called Louisa.

On the island, the girls are forced to clean and study The Bible. Despite demeaning tasks such as catching rats, the trio of friends maintains a sense of humor and Nellie in particular remains defiant, always making sure to stick up for Daisy. Things really take a turn for the girls when they witness another student be secretly taken to the medical hut, not to be seen the next day. Nellie and Daisy are quick to decide they must escape the island, but Louisa is hesitant and worried about the consequences of their potential actions. Seeing this cause a rift in their friendship is really disappointing, since you’re constantly rooting for them throughout the film. Luckily, the three are able to pull out stronger and more united than ever.

We Were Dangerous is a film that is definitely relevant in today’s age, especially when it comes to the ways that women’s bodies are governed. It is a joyous and triumphant story of rebellion, and you can’t help but root for Nellie, Daisy and Lou, which speaks to the skills of the three actors. Likewise, Rima Te Wiata plays a really a convincing antagonist. However, I do wish that they would have gone more into The Matron’s motivations, which were really brushed over. Also, the last part of the film is a race to the finish, which I think took away from the girls’ ultimate victory. There also seemed to be a struggle with the film’s tone, which jumped from comedic to serious issues, never truly finding its footing. However, as a whole, I really enjoyed the film and look forward to seeing more of Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu and the amazing cast.

We give We Were Dangerous a 3.75/5.