Cinema Reviews

Pioneer Review

• 4th Apr 2014

Set in the 1970’s at during Norway’s harvesting of oil in the deep seas (along with an American business partner). We find Petter (Aksel Hennie) an offshore diver taking part in a venture that will see them laying pipe at a depth deeper dived than ever before.

An accident occurs however resulting in a casualty and what appears to be a cover up of the circumstances of the incident, but Petter is determined to find out the truth – but finds it hard locating anyone involved with the programme that is willing to help him.

This old school thriller trapezes the drama and tension very well as we follow Petter trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and making the audience as suspicious of everyone they can along the way.

Erik Skjoldbjærg (Insomina, Prozac nation) film has delivered another brooding thriller which stays in tight with the lead character almost every step of the way  – but gives way sometimes to expansive visual flourishes to highlight the incoming world of industry that is constantly looming in the background.

Wes Bentley and Stephen Lang add to the few English speaking roles in the film as part of the American team, and rightly add to the mystery and suspicion in the plot of the film.

This is perhaps not as high-brow as modern/western audiences like there popcorn – but this is food for thought, and an old style thriller for those who like their films with a retro feel, and film in a what that does not diminish either the subtext of the movie and certainly not the subtle performances within.

Steven Hurst