Pike River
Based on New Zealand’s 2010 mining disaster, two grieving women spearhead a tireless fight for justice, exposing institutional failures and bearing the weight of a national tragedy.
DIRECTOR
Rob Sarkies (Out of the Blue)
Actors
2h 11m • Rated M • Drama, Historical • Aotearoa/NZ
Melanie Lynskey • Robyn Malcolm • Lucy Lawless • Errol Shand • Madeleine McCarthy
The island setting, the modest production, and the humor that often arises from character rather than contrivance work together to keep the film from ever feeling flat. On the flip side, a few feel the pacing is uneven, or that the secondary characters don’t always land. Still, even these criticisms tend to be soft and in the service of a film that is more heartwarming than perfect.
Overall, the consensus sees The Ballad of Wallis Island as a warm, wistful, and soul-soothing film—modest in scope but rich in feeling. It’s not trying to dazzle, but it digs in where it matters: loss, memory, music, human connection. For many, it’s one of the more emotionally satisfying films of 2025.
The Ballad of Wallis Island is a quietly charming British comedy-drama directed by James Griffiths, written by and starring Tom Basden and Tim Key, alongside Carey Mulligan. The story centers on Charles, a lonely lottery winner living on a remote Welsh island, who invites his favorite folk duo—Herb McGwyer and Nell Mortimer—to reunite for a private performance. His motive isn’t just fandom; there are unresolved heartbreaks, nostalgia, and grief behind his idealistic gesture.
Critics are largely enamored with the film’s balance of humor and melancholy. Tim Key’s performance as Charles is praised for being endearingly awkward, verbose, and heart-on-sleeve, often using verbal wit to stave off silence. Basden as Herb, and Mulligan as Nell, deliver subtle, emotionally resonant performances, especially when the old romantic and artistic tensions surface—and you begin to feel what’s been lost, as well as what hope might remain. The original music is another highlight; the songs feel lived in, and the film uses them not as spectacle, but as emotional anchors.
Some reviewers point out that the premise is familiar—a fan’s devotee, reunited artists, romantic regrets—but argue that the execution elevates it.
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On the flip side, some critics and viewers feel the film is a bit long, that its pacing slows in parts—particularly as it covers many years of legal and institutional battles. There are also critiques that while the narrative concentrates on certain families closely involved, it leaves out or under-explores some related political or procedural threads (for example, criticisms that not all Pike River families were consulted, or that some governmental or legal actions aren’t fully fleshed out).
Overall, the consensus is that Pike River succeeds as a deeply moving, socially engaged film. It’s seen as more than just a retelling of tragedy—it’s a tribute to resilience, a critique of institutional failure, and a statement about justice delayed but still demanded. For many, it’s among the strongest New Zealand films of 2025.
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Haunting, compassionate, truth-seeking journey
Pike River is a powerful New Zealand drama directed by Robert Sarkies, running about 130-131 minutes, that chronicles the aftermath of the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster through the eyes of two women—Anna Osborne (Melanie Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (Robyn Malcolm)—who lose loved ones in the tragedy and become leading voices in their fight for justice.
Critics have widely praised Pike River for its emotional honesty, authenticity, and the strength of its central performances. Lynskey and Malcolm are being described as delivering career-defining work, embodying grief, anger, and persistence with nuance that grounds the film’s more dramatic moments. The cinematography by Gin Loane is frequently commended for capturing both the rugged beauty of the West Coast and the emotional weight of the families’ home lives. Reviewers also note that the film’s focus on the friendship that forms between the two women allows it to move beyond a straightforward tragedy into something more about communal strength and moral struggle.