Based on the 2010 Pike River mine tragedy, the film Pike River, directed by Robert Sarkies and starring Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, focuses on the families of the victims, particularly Anna Osborne, wife of contractor Milton Osborne, and Sonya Rockhouse, mother of young miner Benjamin Rockhouse.
While information about the explosion and the rescue operation can be found online, the film focuses on the human relationships, the impact a disaster of this magnitude has on the families, and the incredible courage, strength, and determination shown by Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse, who refused to accept defeat and protested against the government's decision to completely halt rescue operations.
Director: Robert Sarkies
Writer: Fiona Samuel
Stars: Melanie Lynskey, Robyn Malcolm, Erroll Shand
Anna and Sonya got off to a rocky start. Anna suspected that Sonya's ex-husband, Neville, the health and safety manager, knew the mine was not in safe working order but still chose to side with the company. Therefore, when he showed up at a meeting where the victims' families met with a lawyer to discuss whether they could take legal action against Pike River, Anna was furious. Sonya tried to explain that he too had lost a son, but Anna felt he hadn't done enough when he could have. Sonya gradually realized that Anna was right; Neville should have warned his son, considering he was fully aware that the state of the mines was critical.
That was the beginning of Anna and Sonya's friendship. At a time when Anna was struggling to explain to her children why she had to be so involved in the rescue mission, Sonya became her refuge. Anna had advised Milton to take the day off (the night before the incident) as he wasn't feeling well, but he insisted on going to work. The families had hoped that at least some of the 29 men would survive the first explosion, but when there was a second explosion, it became clear that there was no chance of the men surviving. Accepting this reality was a challenge for both Anna and Sonya. Anna, a cancer survivor who had recently discovered she had relapsed, thought her husband would be there to care for their children when she was gone. But now, she didn't know how to process the reality. She was determined not to rest until she had buried her husband's remains. The company representative made it clear that, due to the dangerous conditions, they had no intention of sending anyone into the mine for a rescue mission. The families initially agreed to wait, but after receiving no news of any progress, they realized the company had no real plan.
Pike River highlights how the unexpected loss affected every aspect of Anna and Sonya's lives. Sonya was in a loving relationship with Pete, a sound technician for musical bands. He did everything he could to support her, but the pain and constant feeling of emptiness she experienced were impossible to express. It wasn't a state of mind she could easily escape, and there were days when she felt completely helpless. At one point, Pete decided to end the relationship, although he eventually admitted he was still in love with her, and they ultimately overcame their differences and got back together. Pete had always advised Sonya to fight for justice instead of suppressing her grief, and in the end, when he saw her embark on the path to defend her son, he felt immensely proud of her.
Anna's personal life was also in chaos. She had to undergo chemotherapy, attend court hearings, and strategize to pressure the authorities to carry out the rescue operations, and amidst all this, she couldn't dedicate time to her children. Her children wondered if Anna loved their deceased father more than them, and Anna tried to explain that she would have fought just as hard if they had been in a similar situation. She knew that perhaps only a few bones of Milton remained, but she wanted to find him because it was proof and would help her better understand his death. At the end of Pike River, her daughter, Alisha, shared the news of her pregnancy with her mother, and Anna was filled with joy. The cycle of life continued, and she tried to be as present as possible for Alisha and Rob.
The families of the victims initially trusted that the company would recover the remains of the deceased, but their inaction led to frustration. Five days after the explosion, the families decided to consult a lawyer to demand answers. An inquiry commission was also established to find out what had really happened and prevent such a tragedy from happening again. According to testimonies, there was only one toilet for 60 men working underground, and most of the workers had no choice but to dig holes to relieve themselves. A shift supervisor had repeatedly warned months before the explosion about fire and safety risks, inadequate ventilation, lack of leadership, and poor work practices, but the company did not bother to address the problems. The gas sensors were damaged and giving inaccurate readings; there had been 20 incidents of excessive methane release, and yet the company took no action.
Peter Whittall, the company owner, had repeatedly spoken of the fresh air base, a supposed safe haven for the men working underground that supposedly had self-rescue equipment and a first-aid kit. But, as it turned out, Whittall had never personally inspected the fresh air base, and according to Daniel Rockhouse (son of Sonya, who survived), who had been there before managing to escape the mine, he found an empty packing crate, an opening covered in toxic smoke, and no self-rescue equipment. The inquiry commission concluded that the mine was unsafe and dangerous, and that Pike River Coal Ltd failed in its duty to ensure the safety of its workers.
Subsequently, a woman whose husband worked at Pike River gave Anna a USB drive with surveillance footage from inside the mine. The video evidence showed bodies and belongings of the deceased inside the mine, and the families became even more determined to pressure the authorities to launch a recovery operation. Prime Minister John Key supported the families and was willing to consider a re-entry plan. But that never materialized. Anna put up a banner to pressure John Key, but the other victims' families thought it was too aggressive. However, they eventually realized that without a firm stance, their voices would be silenced.
A criminal complaint was filed against Peter Whittall, but he was allowed to go free without charges after he "voluntarily" agreed to pay $3.41 million to the families. Anna and Sonya refused to accept the compensation; they didn't care about the money, they wanted the person responsible for the deaths of 29 men to be imprisoned. Helen Kelly (the character is entirely based on the late Helen Kelly), president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, supported Anna and Sonya's decision not to give up.
The money Whittall had offered came primarily from corporate insurance he received after his men died on the job. Their lawyer had already warned them that they would lose a considerable amount of money if the case failed, as it was going to be a long and complicated process. But if they won, it would set a legal precedent in the name of Osborne and Rockhouse (which would declare that offering money in exchange for justice is illegal and should never happen again). Their application was ultimately dismissed, but they decided to appeal again. The Supreme Court finally declared the decision to let Peter Whittall go free without charges illegal, and Osborne and Rockhouse's appeal was accepted.
When government officials announced that they would not be going ahead with the re-entry plan and were instead considering building a park with a walking trail dedicated to the 29 men, the families were deeply offended, and Anna didn't mince words, making it very clear that they would not allow them to simply seal the mine with concrete and expect the families to forget about their loved ones. The idea of tourists walking over the graves of the helpless men did not comfort them; on the contrary, it disturbed and disgusted them. Later, when most of the families accepted the trail proposal, Anna and Sonya decided to organize a protest on the road leading to the mine to stop the truck carrying cement to seal it. Their protest attracted public attention. Television and radio stations began reporting on the issue; a documentary filmmaker who had been following the pair also organized a social media team that campaigned for their cause, and it became clear that people were on Anna and Sonya's side.
During the final stages of the Pike River tragedy, when Allied Concrete, the cement company tasked with sealing the mine entrance, learned of the protest, they also decided to support Anna and Sonya and opted not to send their trucks to the mine. This victory was significant for the duo; they realized they weren't alone and that there were people across the country and even abroad who supported them. After John Key resigned as Prime Minister, Anna and Sonya thought they still had hope. They asked the victims' families to sign their petition, which they wanted to present to the opposition party, which would likely form the next government.
Sonya, Anna, and Bernie Monk (the father of one of the victims) approached the opposition parties together to consider their proposal to re-enter the mine. They even approached Jacinda Ardern, who later became Prime Minister of New Zealand, and she was incredibly supportive and promised them that she would deliver justice.
At the end of the Pike River tragedy, Sonya and Anna celebrated the election of the coalition government; after seven years, they finally saw a glimmer of hope again. Sonya and Anna, who went from strangers to acquaintances and then to best friends, couldn't thank each other enough; Sonya believed Anna was "the best thing" that had ever happened to her, and Anna felt the same. They didn't need to express it in words, but they always knew what the other was going through, and even when their families didn't understand them, they supported each other. They knew others might not fully understand their goal, but for them, bringing Ben and Milton home, even if it was just bones and dust, was all they had ever wanted. They needed closure, and they had been desperately seeking it.
The Pike River Recovery Agency was finally formed, whose purpose was to develop a safe re-entry plan. The evidence gathered after the re-entry led to the initiation of a major criminal investigation; the families are hopeful that justice will be served and that Whittall will be prosecuted. Sonya and Anna were allowed to walk 30 meters into the mine; They finally had the opportunity to be a little closer to their lost loved ones.
Safety was a key factor in re-entering the mine, and the Pike River Recovery Agency advanced to the 2.26 km mark. Following recent drilling, a total of twelve bodies have been located. Sonya and Anna's fight was against a system that was trying to cover up a serious crime, and it was their unwavering determination that put pressure on the authorities, preventing them from ignoring their plea.
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