Top of the Lake [DVD]

New Zealand screenwriter, producer and director Jane Campion and Australian television and film director Garth Davis` television mini-series in six episodes which was written by Jane Campion and Australian screenwriter and director Gerard Lee, premiered in the Premieres section at the 29th Sundance Film Festival in 2013, was screened in the Berlinale Special section at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival in 2013, was shot on location in New Zealand and is a UK-Australia-USA co-production which was produced by Australian producer Philippa Campbell. It tells the story about a 30-year-old detective from Australia, specialized in handling sexual assault cases, named Robin Griffin who shortly after having returned to her home place called Laketop in New Zealand to be with her mother named Jude whom is living with her boyfriend named Turangi, is contacted by child services regarding a local twelve-year-old girl named Tui Angel Mitcham.Distinctly and subtly directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion and Australian filmmaker Garth Davis, this finely paced fictional tale which is narrated from multiple viewpoints though mostly from the main character`s point of view, draws a stately and memorable portrayal of a woman whom whilst considering whether or not she should marry her fiancée named Steve becomes personally involved in a criminal case regarding a child whom she empathizes with on a much deeper level than her collaborators, a woman named GJ who with a group of other women who are searching for love and enlightenment settles nearby a lake after having bought a piece of property called Paradise from a real estate agent named Bob Platt, a native and former friend of Robin named Johnno Mitcham, a silent student named Jaime who collects bones and lives with his mother named Simone, a talented guitarist named Melissa, a landowner and dog breeder named Matt Mitcham who lives with his two adult sons named Luke and Mark, a detective sergeant named Al Parker and a mythological place with many hidden secrets. While notable for its distinct, naturalistic and atmospheric milieu depictions, masterful cinematography by cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, reverent production design by production designer Fiona Crombie, costume design by New Zealand costume designer Emily Seresin and poignant choice of location and use of sound, colors and light, this character-driven and narrative-driven story depicts an in-depth and heartrending study of character and contains a great and timely score by Australian composer Mark Bradshaw.This conversational, literary, at times humerous and romantic drama which is set in a town in New Zealand in the 21st century and where a daughter disappears from her home after learning from an ultrasound test that she is pregnant and the woman who thinks she is a victim of statutory rape only has the name "No one" to go after, is impelled and reinforced by its cogent narrative structure, substantial character development, subtle continuity, variegated characters, distinct atmosphere, use of music, interrelated stories, incisive examination of its central themes and the involving and commendable acting performances by American actress Elisabeth Moss, Australian actor David Wenham, Scottish actor Peter Mullan, American actress Holly Hunter, Australian actor Thomas M. Wright, New Zealand actress Robyn Malcolm, Australian actress Mirrah Foulkes and actress Jacqueline Joe in her debut feature film role. A gracefully humane, cinematographic and majestic mystery.

I gave it top rating based on my personal taste for this unusual and exotic crime drama. Not just the exotic and revealing look at the Southern Lakes District of New Zealand, but to get this unusual take on life. For those who live a sheltered life, I doubt this series is for you. On the other hand, the drama is for those with open minds and a desire for the out of the ordinary. Top of The Lake is best watched with subtitles on. Not just because of the NZ accent, which I can clearly understand, but the sound track does seem a bit weak and at times hard to follow. That is the only negative I found in the series.The drama unfolds on many layers, and many minor mysteries that are exposed do not get resolved, you are always left wondering what some relationships really are. This series is also very centered on women's experience of the backwoods isolated man's world of rural South Island New Zealand. The struggle of the locals to make a living drives much of the underlying crime. The ability of isolated police districts to become corrupt and to run to their own tune is also exposed.Not to give anything away, just accept that people are a bit rough on the edges in this series, and let the mysteries unfold while much social commentary is worked into the episodes.If you have an open mind and enjoy seeing life from different and rare angles, this series meets that standard to perfection. Best to watch it twice and absorb ALL the little sub plots.

Where to begin. Well, the assertion that Tui is entering the lake to take her own life may well be wrong (I won't spoil it by stating the alternate reason) and is really not borne out by her subsequent grit and doggedness. Filmed principally around Glenorchy (Lake Top in the programme) it shows off the scenery to stunning and repetitive effect, leading me to the conclusion it might well have been substantially funded by Tourism New Zealand. These scenes along with many others (Jono and Robin getting their gear off overly often, Robin exiting vehicles in the middle of nowhere to walk home etc.) were for the most part seemingly used to stretch the production. For me it was around 25% or 90 minutes too long.That it was a multi-national production showed glaringly. I cringed for poor Holly Hunter (a fine actor) every time she appeared so dreadfully was her character written. David Wenham mumbled through the entire production and was just so listless as a character. As a voyage of self-discovery for our heroine it was satisfactory, but at the cost of repeatedly overlooking the dramatic thread (i.e. the search for Tui). And then we have those oh-so-predictable and woeful Kiwi blokes represented as a kind of soft-core "Once Were Warriors" crew. Others have said it suffers from drawing it's cast from near and far. I agree completely. Only Robyn Malcolm looked vaguely at home. Peter Mullan is another fine actor doing the best he could with his badly drawn character (one amongst so many). Too many loose ends and a denouement that was too hurried (ironical given the snail's pace of the first five and a half hours). Supposedly located in a smallish community (where it might be arguably credible that Mullan's character would be so influential) and yet we have Det Sgt Al living in a Queenstown mansion, supposedly in the same community. Maybe of no matter to non-NZ audiences but irritating to this Kiwi.

Having bought the DVD for my daughter and son in law as they are in love with New Zealand, thought that I would give it a go myself. I can see why I never received any comment on the experience from them.On the plus side the camera work and scenery is excellent and this does help to create a kind of 'Twin Peaks' atmosphere. The production is slick.BUT the script is really not up to it. Characters are consistently inconsistent with annoying anomalies and this is not helped by things like characters referring to the outside temperatures being too cold for survival whilst much of the cast seem happy to wander around with little or no clothes on. The cast is actually strong, but the emotional swings become tiring and unbelievable whilst the behaviour of the lead character defies logic.Feels like the writer needs to grow up a bit.

Very gritty series lots of sex violence and shooting. Just what my husband likes. I thought it was a good story if a little bit loose at times on the main characters history. Couldn't guess the ending which is always great for any TV series. Binge watched it in a day. It was raining. Looking forward to the next series which starts soon on BBC2.