Pike River

“Pike River,” tastefully, does not reenact the group of guys getting trapped. On the surface, it seems as if little voice is given to those men who lost their lives; however, the film redirects their courage and power to the community. For years to come, Anna, Sonya, and other community members band together at town halls and the courthouse. The dangerous reality of the mining industry was made all too clear, and it was time to do something about it. This community becomes a character, acting as a united collective. At the start of one of the meetings, a representative from the company attempts to convey empathy by asking, “Why does it take a tragedy to make us look properly at whether things are done right?” It’s a question posed by the wrong person in the wrong direction that will symbolize the struggle and deceit to come.