The disaster at Pike River which took 29 men’s lives left an indelible mark on the consciousness of our nation such was the height of the tragedy but equally the breadth of the betrayal and injustice. So a dramatic film on the subject had a heck of a lot to live up to. Director Rob Sarkies and his team led wonderfully by Lynskey and Malcolm completely knocked it out of the park. Visceral, heartbreaking and will leave you mad as hell at the injustice of it all, Pike River belongs in the pantheon of New Zealand cinematic masterpieces. A complete and utter triumph. 

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Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rob Sarkies (Out of the Blue, Scarfies), Pike River tells the true story of Anna Osborne (Melanie Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (Robyn Malcolm) – two women who lost their loved ones in the disaster and became leading voices in the families’ long fight for truth and accountability.

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With a story of this magnitude in the lives that were lost, the long unanswered call for justice, and the deep mark that it has left on Kiwi’s hearts and minds, a lesser film maker would have lost their way in this. But director Rob Sarkies manages to navigate potential pitfalls to give us a film that on one hand is a gut punch which never stoops to use the death of the 29 to ratchet up the emotion. The way in which he depicts the disaster holds the weight and pain of the moment while also being completely respectful. 

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The heart of the film is the friendship between Osbourne and Rockhouse which starts off with animosity but blossoms into a true partnership as they battle for justice together. It’s rare to see a female friendship of this depth and honesty portrayed on screen and it grounds the whole film and struggle for justice in the lives of these two women. The production itself is world class from the gorgeous cinematography that makes the West Coast a character in its own right, the score that is soulful and stirring, and the vast and varied costuming.

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But the film belongs to Lynskey and Malcolm who give the best performances of their careers not only creating distinct and real characters but a relationship that feels lived in and true. 

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Visceral, heartbreaking and will leave you mad as hell at the injustice of it all, Pike River belongs in the pantheon of New Zealand cinematic masterpieces. A complete and utter triumph.