Usually when films are done about real-life disasters, especially ones surrounding mining accidents (33, Mine 9, etc.), the films usually focus on those trapped underground, persevering against all odds for survival, and those films usually have a happy ending with those who are facing cave-in hardships persevering and surviving for a happy ending. However, in New Zealand filmmaker Robert Sarkies’ latest film Pike River, the audience is instead treated to the aftermath of a terrible accident where we instead focus on the families in the aftermath of a terrible loss and their long and hard-fought battle in seeking justice in Pike River.
For the uninitiated, the Pike River mine in Greymouth, New Zealand on November 19, 2010, suffered a methane explosion, which resulted in the death of 29 miners, to the point that it was believed that there were no survivors from the multiple underground explosions. This presented a challenge for Sarkies to craft a hopeful and uplifting film in which there was so much tragedy occurring. Instead, in Pike River, the audience focuses on the surviving family members of the miners as they demanded accountability from the mine owners for how this happened in the pursuit of profit at the expense for the greedy owners.
Pike River focuses specifically on Anna (Melanie Lynskey) who lost her husband in the accident as well as Sonya (Robyn Malcolm) who lost her son in the aftermath. At first, they are somewhat strangers who simply knew each other as they both lived in the small mining town. At first the two (as well as many other surviving family members of the accident) suffer in silence. But in the aftermath of town meetings, the two befriend each other and motivate each other as well as members of the town to seek justice. They attend all town halls, inquiries, false settlement hearings, and subsequent protests seeking justice and more accountability from the corporation.
Because Pike River is based on a real-life tragedy, the film tastefully doesn’t show the harrowing explosion from the perspective of the miners in their last moments (it does showcase one explosion done via newscast from the perspective of the families witnessing the event in real time), instead Pike River is a slow burn of the film as most of the excitement is centered on angry meetings and plannings, but it excels through the relationship between Anna and Sonya as they are forced to form a sisterly bond through tragedy. When together, they share intimate moments of loss and struggle. When separated, they continue to suffer in silence. The pursuit of justice causes Anna and her husband Milton’s (John Leigh) marriage to suffer as well as health complications for both parties as the stress of the loss of a loved one takes its toll on them.
From a filmmaking perspective, Pike River is excellently directed and once again reminds us in the States that we need to visit New Zealand one time in our lives as even through the ruins of an ashy mine, it has such a beautiful, almost painted landscape. In addition, there is a beautiful film as it helps navigate a friendship formed through tragedy. While this is a very talkative film, it doesn’t feel “boring” and that’s mostly due to the script as well as the authentic acting by Melanie Lynskey, Robyn Malcolm, and the supporting cast (including Lucy Lawless). The film ends on a hopeful note as it echoes the real life triumph that it led to meaningful changes for workplace safety in New Zealand. The only complaint from the film is that it doesn’t touch on plans to re-enter the mine to recover bodies does by the government, but that’s a part of the story that would work better for a documentary, and not a fictionalized version of the real-life events.
Pike River does end showing footage of the real Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse from many of the events of the film as well as showcasing the fellowship the two have in real life. To this day, legal proceedings are continuing and the two continue seeking justice for their loved one’s loss, and Pike River is a testament to their will and perseverance.
Pike River is now playing in theaters and On Demand.
