Viewers accustomed to high standards of Golden Age of Television would probably discover some familiarity with shows created by BBC. Government-backed corporation, unburdened with market-based limits of television programming, allowed the authors more creative freedom to experiment with the content and form, thus for many years being synonymous with quality television. These days, BBC is just one of many television houses delivering top quality to viewers. In case of Top of the Lake, 2013 miniseries that represents one of its later and much-lauded efforts, BBC was nothing but the brand, providing credentials to what was actually Australia-New Zealand co-production.
Series’ creators are award-winning New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion and Australian writer Gerald Lee. The plot is set in Laketop, fictitious lake resort on New Zealand’s Southern Island (based on real-life Glenorchy near Lake Waitapu, location familiar to the fans of Lord of the Rings films trilogy). Protagonist, played by Elisabeth Moss, is Robin Griffin, Sydney detective and Laketop native, who returns to her home town and agrees to help local police in a search of 12-year old girl who disappeared shortly after the discovery of her pregnancy. Robin’s quest is burdened by some deep personal issues like her mother’s terminal illness and her own teenage traumas, as well as open enmity by Matt Mitcham (played by Peter Mullan), Tui’s father and charismatic leader of local community who also happens to be local drug boss.
Made of seven 45-minutes episodes, Top of the Lake finds the perfect length to tell its story. Campion’s direction and style might look somewhat cold or “hermetic” to those unfamiliar with art cinema, but they serve Gerald Lee’s script very well. The most effective is the good use of locations, whose exquisite natural beauty creates sharp contrast with the utter depravity of its inhabitants, just as certain degree of quirkiness among character makes its dark and disturbing subject bearable for the more sensitive audience. The acting by diverse cast – that includes Campion’s former associate Holly Hunter as bizarre leader of women’s commune/cult - is superb. The final episodes, that use certain elements of western genre, are especially effective. The series is also unapologetic in its explicit feminism and almost all male characters are evil or almost completely useless; that might annoy viewers that don’t like gender stereotypes or shows that wear ideology on their sleaves.
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, David Wenham, Peter Mullan, Tom Wright, Holly Hunter
Written by: Jane Campion, Gerald Lee
Directed by: Jane Campion, Garth Davis, Arnold Kleiman
Created by: Jane Campion, Gerald Lee
Sequel: Top of the Lake: China Girl (2017)
Pro: intelligent script with intriguing plot, good direction, attractive locations, excellent and diverse cast
Contra: disturbing subject and scenes that include children in the context of violence and sexual exploitation
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RATING: 8/10
