She survived war, disease, and patriarchy—then ran for office anyway.
Based upon the life of activist and trade unionist (and later MP) Sonja Davies. The film covers her life up to 1956, when, at age 33, she was elected to the Nelson Hospital Board. During this period she develops strong socialist beliefs, marries and divorces, at age 17 trains as a nurse, has a romance (and a child) with an American marine who is killed in WWII action. She battles tuberculosis and marries a former boyfriend when he returns from the war. She becomes part of a women's ill-fated campaign to save the Nelson railway line from closure and begins to be elected to political bodies.
Acting
Picot's restrained fire—every glance is a manifesto.
Direction
Preston lets history breathe without hagiography.
Production
Nelson locations feel lived-in, not museum-piece.
Director
Gaylene Preston
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Davies became one of NZ's first female cabinet ministers; the film stops before her real power begins, making it origin-story, not victory lap.
Preston fought to shoot in Nelson despite budget pressure; the actual railway closure devastated the region for decades.
NZ
US
