‘Pike River’ – Review
November 19, 2010. A date etched into Aotearoa’s collective memory. A day marked by shock, grief and disbelief as 29 men lost their lives in the Pike River Mine disaster; New Zealand’s worst industrial tragedy in modern history. It was a moment that stopped the country, and its impact has never faded.
Now, in 2025, acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Robert Sarkies returns to the screen with Pike River, an emotionally charged and deeply compassionate retelling of the aftermath of this tragedy, and the extraordinary fight for accountability led by two brave and determined women. What unfolds is one of the most moving, sincere and important films of the year.
The incredible true story of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse whose friendship empowered them to fight for justice after the 2010 Pike River Mine explosion took the lives of 29 men underground.
Sarkies, who first made his mark with the cult favourite Scarfies in 1999 and later the harrowing Out of the Blue, has consistently shown both courage and sensitivity in tackling real-life stories that have left a mark on Aotearoa. With Pike River, he delivers perhaps his most affecting work to date. The film’s power is not in recreating the disaster itself, but in tracing the journey that followed, a journey defined by pain, resilience, grit, and the unwavering pursuit of justice.
At the core of Pike River are Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse, two mothers who lost sons in the disaster. Their grief is unfathomable, but they did not bow. Instead, they stood up. They fought. And they refused to let the system bury the truth along with their loved ones. Sarkies’ direction is anchored in deep reverence for these women and the families of the Pike River 29. Every frame feels considered. Every emotional beat is truthful. There is no sensationalism here, only honesty, dignity and compassion.
Bringing Osborne and Rockhouse to life are Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, two of New Zealand’s finest performers, and both deliver career-defining work. Lynskey brings quiet strength and aching vulnerability to Osborne, a woman who must navigate unimaginable grief while discovering what it means to stand up and speak out. Malcolm is fiery, grounded and unwavering as Rockhouse, capturing her resolve with remarkable clarity. Together, they form the emotional heart of the film — two women bound by tragedy, bonded by purpose. Their chemistry grows beautifully throughout the narrative, and their shared journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Joining them is Lucy Lawless in a transformative performance as Helen Kelly, the iconic trade union leader whose advocacy and support for the Pike River families became essential to their fight for justice. Lawless embodies Kelly with calm intensity and fierce intelligence, and her portrayal is both a tribute and a testament. She is commanding when she needs to be, deeply human when the story calls for stillness, and her presence lingers long after the credits roll.
Visually, Pike River is stunning in its restraint. Cinematographer Gin Loane captures the natural majesty and rawness of the West Coast; the mist, the rain, the rugged green valleys, and these landscapes feel like characters in their own right. The palette is earthy and honest, grounding the story in place and memory. Sarkies’ direction never rushes or forces itself; instead, he allows the emotional weight of this story to land naturally. The pain is real. The love is real. The fight is real.
This is not a film you watch so much as one you feel. It moves through sorrow, outrage and exhaustion, but also love, solidarity and finally, triumph. Not the triumphant roar of victory, but the quiet, hard-earned triumph of refusing to be silenced.
Pike River asks us to remember the 29 men who never came home. To honour the families who continue to carry their memory. To question power when it fails those it claims to protect. And to stand beside one another — especially when the world feels darkest. This is one of the most important New Zealand films in years : raw, humane, powerful, and unforgettable. You will walk away changed. And you will not forget it.
Image: MadMan Films
