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

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Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rob Sarkies (Out of the Blue, Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story, Scarfies), Pike River confronts the tragic events of the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster, which claimed the lives of 29 men underground. But more than just recounting the tragedy, the film shines a light on the extraordinary resilience of two women, Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse, who refused to give up in their pursuit of justice and accountability.

Portrayed on screen by Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets, The Last of Us, Heavenly Creatures) and Robyn Malcolm (After the Party, Outrageous Fortune), Osborne and Rockhouse’s journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as they form a powerful bond in the fight to have their voices heard.

The film also features Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, My Life is Murder) and Tim Gordon, rounding out a cast that delivers raw and authentic performances anchored in the lived experiences of the Pike families.

The first audiences in New Zealand to experience Pike River will be those most directly connected to the tragedy. On Monday, 13th October, the film will receive its New Zealand red carpet premiere at Greymouth’s Regent Theatre: a homecoming event for the West Coast community that bore the heaviest loss.

An invitation-only premiere will follow in Auckland at the ASB Waterfront Theatre on Tuesday, 14th October, before a series of special public preview screenings with Q&A sessions take the film to audiences nationwide. Director Rob Sarkies, members of the cast, and special guests Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse will appear in conversation following screenings in:

• Auckland – Wednesday 15th October (ASB Waterfront Theatre)
• Christchurch – Thursday 16th October (Isaac Theatre Royal)
• Wellington – Saturday 18th October (Embassy Theatre)

Tickets for these events are now on sale, and demand is expected to be immense.

Pike River made its world premiere at the Sydney International Film Festival in June, where it received standing ovations from audiences, including Pike River families who travelled across the Tasman to witness their story honoured on the big screen. A private screening has also been organised for Pike River Families groups in Greymouth before the public release, ensuring that those most deeply affected are given the space to see the film first.
A Director’s Vision

For Sarkies, who has long been recognised for bringing challenging New Zealand stories to cinema with both honesty and empathy, Pike River is perhaps his most significant project yet:

“It’s an honour to bring the story home to the families and community who survived it,” Sarkies says. “At the heart of the film are Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne, two Kiwi-as women whose unique bond demonstrates the power of friendship in the face of adversity. I can’t wait to share their extraordinary story with audiences across New Zealand.”

Pike River is more than just a film — it’s a reckoning, a memorial, and a testament to the resilience of those who fight for justice when the odds are stacked against them. With its powerhouse performances, emotional weight, and unflinching authenticity, this is cinema that will stir audiences and stay with them long after the credits roll.

Pike River opens nationwide in New Zealand on October 30.

Image: MadMan Films

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