“Pike River”

Directed by: Robert Sarkies

Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Robyn Malcolm, Lucy Lawless

Plot: The incredible true story of two women whose friendship empowered them to fight for justice after the Pike River Mine Tragedy took the lives of 29 men underground.

Review:

The film begins with the collapse of the Pike River Mine in New Zealand. We’re introduced to Anna (Lynskey) and Sonya (Malcolm) in their respective lives and how they deal with getting the call about the tragedy and their immediate reaction. The film chronicles their path to friendship and their sisterhood following tragedy.

Melanie Lynskey always elevates anything she’s in, but this has to be a career defining performance. Her and Malcolm just give gritty, heart wrenching performances. There’s a scene about 28 minutes in that is just a gut punch. Malcolm delivers a tour de force just in that scene alone. Even though it’s a really dramatic film, there are a few parts that are just snort out loud funny as well.

The story delves into litigation and how the families just want to recover their loved ones. You feel hopeless just as the characters do, as the government just runs all over them, not really giving a shit about the tragedy and aftermath.

This film is damn near perfect. I didn’t expect to get lost into their world and feel every single damn emotion the characters were feeling. You know what’s coming, but it’s so masterfully done, that it just doesn’t matter. I was glued from start to finish.

****1/2 out of *****

“Pike River” is now available to RENT On Demand and Digital!