Set in New Zealand 1954, girls who are unruly are sent off to a strict Christian reform school. Being 1950s New Zealand, the school aims to teach the girls to become good wives, reject modernity like American culture (Rock n Roll). Another one is the assimilation into European culture and the rejection Maori identity and traditions. Our three main characters Neiley, Daisy and Lou have a hard time coming into these term with these rules and thus rebelled until their friendship is tested.
We Were Dangerous reminds of something like Derry Girls. You are following young girls in the 1950s being affected by the events around them. The movie does a good job in taken us back to 1950s New Zealand we see how some girls in the reform school are there for being promiscuous, being gay and being thieves (one child is in foster care and the other was sent to the city by themselves - I hardly fault them). The girls are taught to be proper Christian women so they are ready for marriage without being taught basics such as reading and writing. And of course the forced assimilation and cultural annihilation of the Maori by the sister (principal) completely rejecting her culture, the school not allowing Maori to be spoken, written and really any semblance of it to be shown.
Overall, it quite nice to watch. Can be a bit comedic at times and serious at others.
