We Were Dangerous

New Zealand in the 1950s is not a particularly friendly place for outcasts, especially not for those who are young, queer or Māori women. Teenagers Nellie and Daisy try to escape from an institution for delinquent girls. They are caught and transferred to an isolated facility on harsh Ōtamahua, “Quail Island”, a former leper colony. The duo becomes a trio when Lou joins them. The Pākehā girl from a wealthy family has been sent to the reformatory by her parents to keep her wayward behaviour under control. Under the supervision of pious nuns, these teenage rebels are to be transformed into obedient young ladies and prepared for marriage. However, the three rebel against the system and doubt the benevolence of the institution and the Christian faith they are taught there. Etiquette courses and lessons in the values of British colonisation do not fit in with their idea of life at all. When degrading punishments are inflicted on them in the middle of the night, the girls begin to plan their escape.