TOP OF THE LAKE
New Zealand. Australia/UK, 2013, 6x60, Colour.
Elisabeth Moss, David Wenham, Peter Mullan, Holly Hunter, Thomas H. Wright, Genevieve Lemon, Robyn Malcolm, Jacqueline Joe, Luke Buchanan, Robyn Nevin, Jacek Koman, Lucy Lawless, Darren Gilshennan.
Directed by Jane Campion, Garth Davis,
Top of the Lake was a significant television series of 2013. Jane Campion and writer Gerard had collaborated in 1990s with such films as Sweetie. Here they have a six part series. Jane Campion shared direction with Garth Davis who was to go on to make the award-winning Lion and the biblical film, Mary Magdalene.
Jane Campion went back to her New Zealand origins and explored a kind of underbelly of New Zealand society.
The series focuses on an Australian detective by played by American actress Elisabeth Moss, going back to the New Zealand, relaxing after her work in Sydney, to see her mother, Robyn Nevin, who is dying.
The film shows a group of women trying to be independent in setting up a commune under the direction of Holly Hunter (who won the Oscar for Jane Campion’s The Piano). They clash with the local landowner, a frightening performance from Scotland’s Peter Mullan. He dominates his family, his sons who work for him, women who process drugs that he distributes. And he clashes with the women at the commune on his property.
In the meantime, a young girl, pregnant, disappears after she has been talking with the detective. The detective makes it her mission to find her after she disappears into the bush. In charge of the case in the town is the detective played by David Wenham, a truly ambiguous character by the end of the series.
There is a vigorous ugliness about the treatment of themes, the exportation of the women the men, a sexual ring in the town, some official correction…
The series was so successful for series, set in Sydney, Top of the Lake, China Girl, was screened in 2017.
1. A successful television series? Awards? Jane Campion and Gerard Lee? The strong cast?
2. The New Zealand settings, the range of the terrain, the town, the countryside, mountains and lakes, the farms, the commune? Bars, homes? The highways? The musical score?
3. Robin’s story? Elisabeth Moss as the detective, building up the picture of her life, growing up in the town, her being raped, 16, her pregnancy and the adoption of the child? Her relationship with her mother, no abortion, the Catholic background? Becoming a detective? The engagement, Stephen, communication with him? Her mother’s illness, the man living with her? The search for Tui? The bond with her after the interrogation? Taking her back to her father? Meeting the brothers, going to Tui’s mother, the visit to the commune, interrogating the women? Working with Al Parker, the meetings, the male police ignoring her as a woman? The search, the helicopter, speculations? The meeting with John, the relationship with him? The past? The sex offender, his reputation, the visit? His killing himself? Not being the father of the child? Investigation of the house, his death? In the bar, the violence against Sarge, his role in raping her? Talking with John, the flashbacks to the rape, the dance, their being together, his going out for a smoke, the men waiting in the truck, his seeming signal, the rape, his later explanation that he was in the truck, ashamed that he was cowardly, could do nothing for her? The effect on her? For continuing the relationship? Continual concern for Tui, searching? Planning to convict Matt? Her visit and the recorder, the truth of her paternity, the flashback, disbelief and upset? Encounters with John and his disbelief (and the later DNA revelation of his paternity). Desperate, with Al Parker, the mountains and Matt’s death, the baby? Going to the commune for solace? Her mother’s death? Her suspicions, going to Al’s house? The truth?
4. Jude, her history, marriage, death of her husband, her present relationship, Maori, his concern. Her illness, doctor’s visits, prognosis, talking with Robin, Robin’s visits? The past, Robin’s rape, pregnancy, Catholic, no abortion, adoption? Jude wanting to see her grandchild? Leaving, the last phone call? The truth about Matt and the affair?
5. Tui, her age, Matt as her father, her mother? The half-brothers? Her rage, walking into the lake, her pregnancy, the mystery of the father, with the police, Robin and the interrogation? Confidence? Background at school, with the other girls? Going home, the dog, going to the commune, the horse, with the women, her disappearance? The video of her learning to dance, the music, Robin continuing to watch it? Her hiding in the mountains, the others bringing her food? The old man, the milk, his book and the details of anatomy and giving birth? The visitors? The women from the commune and communicating? Matt, his search, the hunters, scouring the woods? The birth, the child? John and Robin with the guns, Matt and the gun, Tui shooting Matt, John wounded? Her being brought down, the care with the women? Tui upset with the child crying? Going back into town, Robin trying to phone her, her being found at the house of Al Parker?
6. Matt, Peter Mullan? Gruff, arrogant? A law unto himself? His power? Owning the land, working it, with his sons? The Paradise land, the agent, selling it, confronting the women? The agent, on the boat, confrontation, pushing him over, not rescuing him, his dying? The lies? The sons, their work, opinions? Al Parker, the search for Tui, on the boat? His visit to the commune, propositioning Bunny, accepting Anita, the episode with her, the touch of tenderness, going to his mother his mother’s grave, Anita on the grave and his vicious reaction? Taking her back, the reaction of the other women? His meetings with G J? Asking her questions about the meaning of life? How the human mind worked? The revelation about the drug lab? His dealings in money? Financing his home? His arrogance but sense of guilt – and the scenes of him whipping himself and his mother’s grave? Continued search, the hunters, his declaration that Tui was alive? Robin and the confrontation, the meeting, the tape, the flashback and his revealing that he was her father, her mother’s affair with him – and her mother warning her before she left not to have a relationship with John? And the irony of Al Parker later discovering that John was not Matt’s son? The reaction of the women, willing to testify against him? In the house, his headaches, anger with his sons, violence? The hunters? Going to the woods, finding Tui and the baby, her shooting him after he pointed the rifle at the baby?
7. Al Parker, in himself, in the police, his position, authority? The meetings? Collaboration with Robin? Meeting her, the search for Tui? The helicopters? His relationship with Matt and his sons? The meal with Robin, her drinking, her being sick, his letting her stay at the house? Her embarrassment? On the boat with Matt? His knowing the truth about Robin’s paternity? The experts from outside? The group of youngsters, his working with them, their serving at the canteen, his teaching them style? The photos on the wall? Robin and her suspicions? Ringing the children? Going to his house, the confrontation? The truth about his home and the centre for the abuse of the children? (How sudden was this revelation that he was the villain – and sufficient clues throughout the series or not?)
8. GJ and the women, Holly Hunter as GJ? As a person, her appearance, her ideas, control, power, detachment? Setting up the commune, the containers? The range of women, their characters, their problems, joining in the commune, following GJ, their talk? Bunny, her story, sexuality, the man in the pub, giving him seven minutes? The lawyer bringing his daughter, anger with his wife? Matt’s visit and the interactions? His asking GJ questions? Robin and her visits? Robin wounded, GJ urging her to sleep? Yet GJ’s exasperation with the women, deciding to move to Iceland? The range of the women and their characters, support of each other, living the commune life, naked, washing, cooking? Devout listening to GJ? The reaction to her leaving?
9. The women in the drug lab? Simone, her son, his not talking, dyed hair, yes and no on his hand? In prison, interrogation? Al Parker’s brutality? His shoplifting – and the goods for Tui? Robin’s visit, the interactions? His going up the mountain, supporting Tui? Helping her, the pursuit of the men, his death? His mother’s grief? And his not being the father of the child because he was gay? And his photo on the wall in Al Parker’s group?
10. The women, turning against Matt, willing to give testimony? His anger against them?
11. The role of women and men in the town, the subservient women, independent women? The men, outnumbering the women, the drinking, rough?
