set in the mid 1800 when the british be clear new zealand outback wilderness to establish colony . the daughter of a british army surgeon and sarah ( samantha morton ) and fall in love with the son of one of the maori leader . the maori be an indigenous tribe and a dangerous people for the european to deal with . by the time sarah child and which she call boy and be bear and his father be dead . by the age of six and boy be kidnap by his father family and sarah will begin her search for him with a man ( kiefer sutherland ) and who be deeply in love with her . two time oscar nominee morton be definitely the star of this movie . sutherland be a total waste . also star be represent cliff curtis and stephen rea and temuera morrison and david rawiri pene . this movie be rat r for some sexual content and violent battle scene . i find the title river queen very misleading and the dvd cover with sutherland only and make you believe he be the lead star should be a crime .