The movie Mr. Pip is based on the novel of the same name by New Zealand author Lloyd Jones. It tells the story of a young girl named Matilda who lives on the island of Bougainville during a civil war between the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) and the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF).
Matilda's village is cut off from the rest of the island and has no access to news or any outside information. The only white person in the village is Mr. Watts (Hugh Laurie), who Matilda's mother initially distrusts but eventually allows to teach the children at the local school. Mr. Watts introduces the children to the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, which becomes a lifeline for Matilda and helps her escape the harsh realities of war.
As the situation on the island becomes increasingly volatile, the military presence grows stronger, and Matilda's village is subjected to brutal violence and intimidation. The revolutionary soldiers see Mr. Watts as a threat and demand that he leave the village. However, Matilda and her classmates refuse to let him go and come up with a plan to protect him.
The film explores themes of the power of literature, the impact of war on civilian life, identity, and the tensions between colonialism and post-colonialism. The movie is directed by Andrew Adamson and stars Xzannjah Matsi and Healesville Joel as Matilda and her best friend Dolores, respectively.