Pike River (MA 15+)

Two ordinary women together stand up and take on the government, justice system and a company that will stop at nothing to protect itself.

On 19th November 2010, the Pike River coal mine exploded, killing 29 men in one the worst mining disasters in New Zealand's history. Anna Osborne lost her husband Milton and Sonya Rockhouse lost her son Ben. As the shattered families of the Pike 29 start to suspect official sources are lying to them and that no one will be held accountable for these deaths, Anna and Sonya embark on a desperate search for truth and justice, leading to change they never thought possible.

This is a film about the powerless vs. the powerful, of people vs. money, of right vs. wrong. An inspiring true story of an incredible female friendship and together what is possible when you simply won’t give up.

Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Robyn Malcolm, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Erroll Shand, Miriama McDowell, Colin Moy, Richard Crouchley, Peter Tait, John Leigh, Jordan Mooney, Lucy Lawless, Ian Mune

Director: Robert Sarkies

★★★★½ "Pike River is a damn near-perfect film. It succeeds thunderously well at bringing to life the story it sets out to tell. And it treats the people and the communities of the coast with palpable aroha and respect." POST NZ

★★★★ "a quietly powerful examination of the devastation corporate greed can bring upon people and how bonds that are formed through shared pain can be powerful enough to enact change – including changing the government." FILMHOUNDS

★★★★ "The momentum never slows." SMH